KATE  V.  ST.  MAUR 


THE  EARTH'S  BOUNTY 


THE  MACMILLAN  COMPANY 

NEW  YORK    •    BOSTON   •    CHICAGO 
ATLANTA   •    SAN   FRANCISCO 

MACMILLAN  &  CO.,  LIMITED 

LONDON   •    BOMBAY  •    CALCUTTA 
MELBOURNE 

THE  MACMILLAN  CO.  OF  CANADA,  LTD. 

TORONTO 


-BETTY' 


THE  EARTH'S  BOUNTY 


BY 
KATE  V.  SAINT  MAUR 

AUTHOR  OF  "A  SELF-SUPPORTING  HOME" 


WITH   MANY   ILLUSTRATIONS   FROM 
PHOTOGRAPHS 


THE   MACMILLAN   COMPANY 

LONDON:  MACMILLAN  &  CO.,  LTD. 
1909 

Att  rights  reterved 


COPYRIGHT,  1908, 
BT  PEARSON  PUBLISHING  CO. 

COPYBIHHT,  1909, 
BY  THE  MACMILLAN  COMPANY. 


Set  up  and  electrotyped.    Published  March,  1909. 


Press  of  J.  J.  Little  &  Ives  Co. 
425-435  East  Twenty-fourth  Street,  New  York 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER    ONE 


PAGE 

PROFIT   IN   WINTER   LAMBS  1 


CHAPTER    TWO 

WINTER   VIOLETS 
PROPAGATING — DISEASES — SPOT — MARKETING  ...      23 

CHAPTER    THREE 

TILLAGE   AND    ROTATION    OF   CROPS    AS 
REGENERATORS 

CORN  ROOT  SYSTEM  —  SMALL  GRAINS  —  ROOT  SYSTEM  OF 
GRASSES — ROOT  SYSTEMS  OF  LEGUMES — POTATO  ROOT 
SYSTEM — SUGAR-BEET  ROOT  SYSTEM  51 

CHAPTER  FOUR 

BUILDING   AND   OPERATING   A   SILO 

ESTIMATE  OF  MATERIALS  FOR  WISCONSIN  IMPROVED  SILOS — 

CLOVER  FOR  SUMMER  SILAGE 82 

CHAPTER    FIVE 

THE    BARN-YARD   WEALTH         .        .     112 
V 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  SIX 
THE  ORCHARD 

PAOB 

GATHERING  AND  MARKETING — THE  YOUNG  ORCHARD     .        .    131 

CHAPTER    SEVEN 

DAIRY   AND    YOUNG   CATTLE 

STABLING    Cows — FEEDING — MANAGEMENT    OF    THE    Cows — 

THE  DAIRY — YOUNG  CATTLE 166 

CHAPTER    EIGHT 

REARING   FAMILY   AND   WORK   HORSES 

STABLING  AND  GENERAL  CARE — FEEDING — THE  BROOD  MARE 

— THE  COLT'S  FEED  AND  EDUCATION — TRAINING     .        .    200 

CHAPTER    NINE 

QUAIL   AND   WILD   DUCK 
MANAGEMENT  AND  CARE — FEEDING          .        .     "  .        .        .    233 

CHAPTER    TEN 

GOATS 

ESTABLISHING  FLOCK  —  FEEDING  —  INCREASING   FLOCK  AND 

CARE  OF  THE  KIDS — THE  FLEECE,  MOHAIR,  AND  KEMP   .    264 

CHAPTER    ELEVEN 

THE  WOOD-LOTS  .        .        .294 

vi 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER    TWELVE 
THOROUGHBRED    POULTRY 

PAGE 

INBREEDING — PEDIGREE — "  PARALLEL   BARS  " — THE  COLOR  OF 

THE  TIP 321 

CHAPTER    THIRTEEN 

DOGS 
GENERAL  CARE — BREEDING — TOY  DOGS 350 

ITINERARY   OF   THE   YEAR'S   WORK  ,    382 


Vll 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

"  Betty " Frontispiece 

FACING  PAGE 

"  Betty,"  "  Baa-Baa,"  and  their  Babies  ....  5 

A  Warm  October  Day 9 

In  Pasture  Time 16 

Champion  Dorset  Ram  and  Ewe 20 

A  Perfect  Leaf  and  Flower 25 

A  Strong,  Healthy  Plant  which  Bears  131  Flowers  in  a 

Season 32 

The  New  Violet  House .  .44 

Harrowing  the  Second  Time 53 

The  Finishing  Touch 68 

Harvest  Time 76 

Filling  the  Silo 100 

Carelessly  Thrown  Out  Manure  Rapidly  Deteriorates  in 

Value 121 

Compost  Heaps  of  Sod  and  Dead  Leaves  on  which  is 

Emptied  the  Surplus  Leachings  and  Stable  Drainage .  128 

The  Result  of  Several  Years'  Neglect 137 

After  the  Suckers  and  Dead  Wood  Had  Been  Removed  .  144 

Grain  Crop  in  Young  Orchard 153 

Sheep  Keep  the  Grass  Short  and  Fertilize  the  Ground  .  160 

Young  Jerseys — "  Grades  " 169 

Mixed  Heifers 176 

Cream  Separator 185 

ix 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

FACING  PAGE 

The  Jersey  Herd 192 

Lunch  Time 196 

The  All-round  Useful  Horse 204 

Cleaning  Out  the  Hoof 213 

Good  Types  for  Riding  and  Driving 217 

The  Percheron  Type 224 

Trying  to  Photograph  a  Colt 228 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bob  White  and  Family  at  Home  .        .        .  245 

Ruffed  Grouse  or  Partridge 249 

A  Domesticated  Wild  Duck 256 

An  Enclosure  for  Pheasants 260 

Imported  Ram  and  Does 268 

American-born  Angoras 277 

Kids,  Four  and  Five  Months  Old 292 

Removing  Clumps  of  Trees  is  a  Mistake       .        .        .        .297 
The  Layers  of  Leaves  Keep  the  Soil  Moist  and  must  not 

be  Destroyed 304 

Two  Days  after  Finding  Them 308 

"Gip"         .        .        .        .        .        .        .        .  / '     .        .        .  313 

"  Tick-Tack,"  the  Belated  Baby,  after  he  Became  a  Pet       .  320 

White  Wyandotte  Rooster 325 

White  Wyandotte  Hen 329 

Plymouth  Rock  Rooster 336 

A  Rhode  Island  Red  Rooster 340 

Buff  Rock  Pullet 348 

"Victoria" 357 

A  Good  Collie 361 

Russian  Wolfhound 368 

A  Toy  Pomeranian 372 

The  Most  Beautiful  Yorkshire  in  America      ....  380 


THE  EARTH'S   BOUNTY 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

CHAPTER   ONE 

PROFIT   IN    WINTER   LAMBS 

SINCE  Mother  Earth  has  been  so  bountiful 
in  her  gifts  to  us,  I  don't  mind  admitting 
that  a  sense  of  unconfessed  failure  prompted 
us  to  abandon  city  life;  for  we  were  true 
Metropolitan  tramps,  who  had  chased  fame 
and  fortune  half  over  the  world,  and  had 
only  succeeded  in  gathering  a  few  stray  laurel 
leaves,  which  were  fast  dying  for  want  of  suf- 
ficient lucre  to  keep  them  alive. 

The  country  home  of  story  books,  covered 
with  roses  and  jasmine,  had  been  the  ideal 
scene  of  our  old  age.  To  such  slothful  degra- 
dation might  disappointed  pride  have  led  us 
had  finances  permitted.  As  it  was,  a  small 

1 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

farm  where  poultry,  fruit  and  vegetables 
should,  at  least,  reduce  living  expenses,  had 
to  be  sought. 

The  finding  of  a  dear,  old-time  homestead 
and  twelve  acres  of  land,  amid  picturesque 
scenery,  which  we  could  lease  for  three  years 
at  the  ridiculously  low  rent  of  $180  a  year, 
somewhat  reconciled  us  to  the  practical,  even 
before  we  had  experienced  the  glorious  invig- 
oration  of  the  industrious  outdoor  life  on  a 
farm,  where  each  day  reveals  some  new  inter- 
est. Impecuniosity  compelled  our  commen- 
cing at  the  bottom  of  the  ladder — a  few  hens, 
a  few  ducks,  and  so  gradually  through  the 
poultry  family,  to  the  dignity  of  a  cow;  after 
whose  acquisition  the  home  rapidly  became 
self-supporting,  even  showing  a  surplus  profit 
at  the  end  of  the  third  year. 

Of  course  the  work  was  hard  at  first,  be- 
cause want  of  knowledge  caused  many  blun- 
ders; but  study,  illustrated  by  daily  happen- 
ings, soon  furnished  the  practical  experience 
which  smoothed  away  the  difficulties,  and 

2 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

made  me  anxious  to  extend  my  experiments 
in  husbandry. 

What  would  have  -happened  had  our  twelve 
acres  been  an  individual  farm  I  don't  know; 
for  we  had  grown  to  love  the  dear  old  place 
so  much  that  I  believe  that,  if  desire  for  prog- 
ress had  necessitated  moving,  we  should  have 
remained  mere  poultry  people.  Fortunately, 
the  Wilbur  homestead,  which  we  occupied, 
and  the  Earl  homestead,  had  been  built  be- 
fore Revolutionary  days,  at  opposite  ends  of 
a  four-hundred-acre  estate,  by  the  many 
times  great-grandfather  of  the  present  owner, 
for  his  two  younger  sons;  and  had  for  gen- 
erations descended  from  fathers  to  sons,  until 
some  thirty  years  before  our  inroad,  when  the 
entire  property  had  fallen  to  Mr.  E.,  our 
landlord,  who,  having  a  large  family,  pre- 
ferred to  keep  all  the  land  in  one  farm,  ex- 
cepting the  twelve  acres  immediately  around 
the  Wilbur  homestead,  which  a  widowed  sis- 
ter had  occupied  before  our  tenancy.  Mr. 
E/s  large  family  had  dwindled  down  to  a 

8 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

son  in  Australia  and  a  daughter  in  Eng- 
land. 

Three  years  had  turned  our  landlord  into  a 
valued  friend  and  my  chief  adviser;  so,  when 
success  had  outgrown  the  twelve  acres,  he  was 
the  first  to  propose  that  I  take  back  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  the  original  land  be- 
longing to  the  farm.  It  included  a  large  pro- 
portion of  wood  and  brush  lots,  but  had  about 
eighty  acres  divided  in  pasture  and  cultivated 
ground,  two  outlying  barns  and  a  workman's 
cottage.  His  offer  was  a  five  years'  lease,  at 
$20  a  month,  and  the  option  of  purchase  on 
easy  terms.  Need  I  say  that  we  accepted  im- 
mediately? 

The  extended  acreage  made  it  advisable  for 
me  to  devote  all  my  strength  and  time  to  man- 
agerial planning  and  supervision,  so  more  help 
had  to  be  engaged.  Sidney,  my  first  assistant, 
a  boy  of  fifteen,  was  still  with  me ;  and  his  sister 
had  left  school  the  year  before,  to  become  my 
household  factotum.  From  them  I  had,  at  dif- 
ferent times,  gleaned  parts  of  the  family  history. 

4 


The  father  had  run  away  from  a  farm  home 
in  England,  to  enlist  in  the  army ;  been  bought 
out;  then  married,  and  went  out  to  New 
Mexico  to  manage  a  silver  mine;  threw  up 
the  position  on  falling  heir  to  a  little  money, 
came  to  this  country,  stocked  a  dairy  farm, 
failed,  and  gradually  fell  into  troubled  waters, 
through  no  actual  fault,  but  just  inability  to 
manage.  After  some  hesitation  I  offered 
them  the  cottage  to  live  in,  with  a  salary  of 
$30  a  month,  fire,  wood,  milk,  and  several  other 
perquisites. 

Mr.  Fred  had  certainly  made  the  most  aw- 
ful muddle  of  his  own  affairs,  but  his  military 
training,  and  knowledge  of  stock  raising,  made 
him  an  invaluable  subordinate  on  our  farm. 
As  for  Mrs.  Fred — well,  she  loved  young 
animals,  understood  dairying,  and  possessed 
more  diligent  industry  than  any  one  person 
it  has  ever  been  my  good  fortune  to  meet. 
They  had  three  younger  children — two  girls 
and  a  boy;  so,  as  the  cottage  had  only  four 
rooms  and  an  extension  kitchen,  Wally  shared 

5 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

Sidney's  room  over  the  feed  house.  The  whole 
family  were  delighted  at  being  together,  and 
profitably  engaged,  whilst  I  have  always 
credited  half  our  success  to  their  faithful  co- 
operation. 

The  first  stock  materially  increased,  under 
the  new  conditions,  were  sheep — which  prob- 
ably seemed  strange,  as  sheep -raising  is  rarely 
undertaken  by  dilettanti.,  or  even  practical 
farmers,  in  the  Eastern  States,  but,  as  in  sev- 
eral other  instances,  an  accidentally  acquired 
pet  influenced  our  selection. 

Mr.  E.,  our  landlord,  wras  an  exception  to 
the  general  rule,  and  kept  sheep;  but  then,  he 
was  a  real,  old-fashioned  farmer,  whose  an- 
cestors had  prided  themselves  for  generations 
on  having  fine  stock  of  all  descriptions.  The 
two  homesteads  were  quite  five  miles  apart  by 
the  highroad,  and  in  different  States;  but  a 
well-beaten  wagon-track  through  the  woods 
reduced  the  distance  between  the  homes  to  a 
mile  and  a  half. 

During  our  second  winter  there,  a  severe 

6 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

cold  kept  Mrs.  E.  in  the  house,  and  gave  me 
an  excuse  to  spend  many  afternoons  in  her 
cheery  living-room,  being  initiated  into  the 
possibilities  of  silk  scraps,  when  manipulated 
according  to  old-time  knowledge. 

During  one  of  these  duet  Dorcas  meetings 
Mr.  E.  came  hurrying  in  with  an  apparently 
dead  lamb  which  he  placed  on  my  knee,  say- 
ing: 

"  Here  s  something  to  your  taste.  It  may 
live  if  you  hold  it  in  hot  water.  I  want  to  try 
and  save  the  mother." 

And  off  he  started,  waiting  only,  as  he 
got  to  the  door,  to  say,  '  We  didn't  look 
for  any  lambs  until  March,  and  here  it  isn't 
Christmas.  I  fear  I  am  sure  to  lose  the 
mother." 

Almost  before  he'd  closed  the  door,  I  had 
the  poor  little  cold  baby  up  to  its  neck  in  a 
pail  of  hot  water.  Quite  soon  it  showed  signs 
of  life,  and  by  the  time  it  had  been  rubbed 
dry  in  front  of  the  fire,  and  was  being  fed 
with  warm  milk,  Mr.  E.  returned,  telling  us 

7 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

the  poor  mother  was  dead.  Later,  when  the 
baby  was  curled  up,  contentedly  sleeping,  on 
my  lap,  he  said: 

"  Say,  Mother,  don't  you  want  to  give  that 
lamb  away  for  a  Christmas  present?" 

Being  a  generous  old  dear,  and  knowing  my 
predilection  for  infant  creatures,  she  acqui- 
esced most  cordially,  and  I  carried  home  the 
poor  little  chap,  improvising  a  feeding  bottle 
by  tying  a  wad  of  cotton  batting  in  the  center 
of  a  linen  handkerchief,  pushing  the  ends  into 
a  wide-mouthed  bottle,  and  allowing  only  the 
batting  wad  to  protrude  from  the  neck,  where 
it  was  securely  tied  to  prevent  its  being  pulled 
out.  With  this  most  primitive  substitute  for 
a  mother,  the  noble  little  creature  struggled 
through  infancy,  to  become  chief  among  our 
outdoor  pets;  nor  would  she  ever  have  been 
considered  as  a  commercial  factor  had  not 
her  habit  of  following  me  about  led  her  into 
a  paddock  on  Mr.  E.'s  farm,  where  a  newly 
acquired  ram  was  enclosec1 

Five  months  later,  October  10th,  when 
8 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

Betty  was  a  little  less  than  two  years  old,  her 
little  daughter  arrived. 

Lambs  are  always  attractive  and  funny, 
with  their  quaint,  solemn  faces  and  elongated 
legs  and  tails ;  but  the  offspring  of  a  pet  sheep 
is  simply  fascinating,  because  quite  fearless. 
Bess,  a  lifelong  friend  of  Betty's,  had  puppies 
about  six  weeks  old  when  Baa-Baa  was  born; 
and  the  antics  of  those  babies,  when  at  play, 
would  have  beguiled  the  most  diligent  into 
waste  of  time.  But,  then,  it  is  just  such  stolen 
moments  which  give  zest  to  farm  life. 

Baa-Baa's  advent  had  no  special  signifi- 
cance until  Christmas  time,  when,  reading  the 
market  quotations  one  day,  I  saw  that  "  hot- 
house "  lambs  were  bringing  from  fifteen  to 
twenty  dollars  apiece.  Such  prices  aroused 
active  interest.  Books,  pamphlets  and  farm 
papers  were  procured,  and  a  course  of  study 
was  in  progress  when  the  new  lease  was  signed, 
that  made  personal  experiment  possible. 

In  March  five  sheep  were  bought,  at  six  dol- 
lars each;  Mr.  E.'s  Dorset  ram  was  hired  for 

9 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

the  first  two  weeks  in  May,  at  a  fee  of  five 
dollars;  and  the  following  January  there  were 
seven  lambs  for  sale,  which  realized  $100. 
Betty  had  twins  that  year,  and  they  were  in- 
cluded. Feed  had  cost,  as  nearly  as  we  could 
estimate  it,  $4 — making  the  entire  outlay  $39; 
profit  $61  and  Baa-Baa,  though  I  suppose 
Betty's  last  two  lambs  should  not  be  included 
in  the  calculation.  But  even  if  they  are  de- 
barred by  strict  justice,  there  would  still  be 
$31  to  the  good. 

There  are  two  indispensable  requisites  for 
this  comparatively  new  departure  in  sheep- 
raising.  First,  a  well- ventilated  barn;  sec- 
ondly, the  right  kind  of  sheep.  Our  cow  barn, 
being  very  large,  and  built  in  the  old-time 
fashion  of  half -closed  stables  at  the  back  of  a 
deep,  open-fronted  shed,  covered  by  a  high 
roof  and  haymow,  enabled  us  to  provide  the 
first  with  little  expense  or  work. 

A  partition,  four  feet  high,  was  run  across 
the  shed,  for  which  slabs  were  used,  which  cost, 
at  the  saw-mill,  only  $4.40.  Then  three  of  the 

10 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

stables  were  thrown  into  one,  making  a  gen- 
eral sleeping  place,  twelve  feet  deep  and  thirty 
feet  long.  Two  more  of  the  stables  were 
subdivided,  by  movable  partitions,  into  pens 
in  which  to  segregate  sheep  at  lambing  time; 
which  gave  us  ample  space  for  the  proposed 
flock,  as  the  general  estimate  is  twelve  square 
feet  to  a  ewe.  Three  hot-bed  sashes  were  let 
into  the  end  of  the  shed,  and  two  into  the  large 
sleeping  compartment,  as  the  original  win- 
dows were  only  two  feet  square.  Probably 
these  additional  windows  were  not  essential, 
but  light  and  sunshine  are  one  of  my  fads, 
and  we  had  lots  of  sashes,  bought  at  an  auc- 
tion sale  some  time  before.  Two  racks  for 
fodder,  two  shallow  troughs  for  grain,  and 
one  deep  one  for  water  constituted  the  fur- 
nishings of  the  fold,  and  cost  only  three  dol- 
lars for  timber,  as  Fred  made  them. 

The  second  essential  was  more  difficult  to 
satisfactorily  arrive  at,  for  the  books  we  had 
all  discussed  sheep  farming  from  the  old 
standpoint  of  mutton  and  wool — a  branch  of 

11 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

the  industry  which  the  Eastern  farmer,  with 
his  restricted  acreage,  has  had  to  concede  to 
the  Western  ranchman,  whose  vast  holdings 
of  cheap  pasture  permit  his  making  a  profit 
at  prices  quite  beyond  our  Eastern  competi- 
tion. Even  the  farm  papers  had  little  reliable 
information  on  the  subject  eleven  years  ago, 
but  a  short  account  in  an  English  agricultural 
magazine  mentioned  the  fact  that  a  Mr.  Some- 
body, who  was  making  a  specialty  of  raising 
lambs  for  the  Christmas  market,  considered  a 
flock  of  Dorset  grade  ewes,  headed  by  a  pure- 
bred Dorset  ram,  insured  the  best  lambs.  As 
Baa-Baa's  father  was  a  splendid  gentleman 
of  that  ilk,  we  did  not  worry  about  tracing 
the  family  history  of  the  first  five  sheep  of  ex- 
perimental days,  only  being  careful  to  select 
healthy-looking  animals  of  approved  shape, 
which  an  authority  describes,  as  nearly  as  I 
can  remember,  as  follows: 

"  Ewes  should  be  a  good  average  size,  well 
proportioned  and  symmetrical.  A  feminine 
head,  clean-cut  nostrils,  bright  eyes,  small 

12 


neck — long  and  thin  as  compared  with  the 
ram's,  strong  shank  with  good  heart  girth, 
well  sprung  ribs,  back  slightly  arched,  with 
well-filled  hips  and  straight  legs." 

As  the  results  seemed  satisfactory  to  our 
ignorant  judgment,  the  next  year's  additions 
to  the  flock  were  selected  in  the  same  way;  but 
subsequently,  the  superiority  of  Dorset — or, 
at  least,  good  grade  Dorsets — as  breeders  and 
mothers  was  so  fully  demonstrated,  on  our 
own  and  other  farms,  that,  for  the  last  few 
years,  none  other  have  been  tolerated.  (Ex- 
cepting, of  course,  Betty,  who  is  still  the 
leader  of  the  flock,  though  Baa-Baa  wears  a 
bell  also,  and  ably  assists  her  mother  in  mar- 
shaling the  flock  around.) 

I  have  always  excused  the  presence  of  my 
innumerable  pet  animals  and  birds  by  my  be- 
lief in  their  value  as  decoys  in  managing 
others  of  their  kind;  but  never  have  I  seen  it 
demonstrated  so  forcibly  as  in  the  case  of 
sheep.  Betty  and  Baa-Baa,  having  been 
brought  up  with  dogs,  had  entirely  lost  the 

13 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

sheep's  instinctive  dread  of  the  canine  race, 
and  their  placid  fearlessness  seemed  to  be 
transmitted  to  the  whole  flock  if  a  strange 
dog  got  into  the  pasture,  for  they  would  stand 
and  stare  at  him  until  he  departed  in  a  state 
of  mystified  astonishment.  Not  one  dog  in  a 
hundred  will  attack  sheep  unless  they  run,  so 
my  advice  is:  commence  sheep-raising  with  a 
baby  lamb,  who  can  be  trained  to  associate 
with  the  house  dog,  and  come  when  called. 

Though  Dorset  grade  ewes  are  almost  as 
satisfactory  as  full  bred,  the  ram  must  be  as 
pure-bred  as  it  is  possible  to  find,  and  will 
cost  about  $100.  Our  Sultan  was  brought  di- 
rect from  West  Stafford,  Dorset,  England, 
and  was  a  beauty;  but  now  there  are  several 
herds  of  pure  Dorsets  in  this  country,  and 
there  is  nothing  gained,  and  much  cash  lost, 
by  importing. 

The  ram's  quarters  should  be  some  distance 
from  the  sheep-fold,  but  his  comfort  must  not 
be  neglected.  Provide  a  dry  shed,  with  ample 
room  for  exercise  during  the  winter,  when  pas- 

14 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

tures  are  covered  with  snow.  He  must  be  kept 
in  good  condition,  but  never  allowed  to  grow 
excessively  fat.  From  May  until  September 
a  good  pasture,  and  just  a  handful  of  oats, 
or  oats  and  bran,  at  night,  will  keep  him  vig- 
orous and  strong.  From  September  until 


THE  GANGWAY  FOOT  BATH 

April,  feed  corn  fodder,  oat  straw  or  hay,  in 
rack,  night  and  morning,  and  increase  the 
grain  rations  slightly  as  the  winter  advances. 
April  and  May  he  can  have  a  quart  of  oats 
and  wheat,  and  about  two  ounces  of  linseed 
meal,  or  oilcake  broken  up,  and  all  the  green 
food  and  hay  he  will  eat.  In  May  the  ram  is 
taken  to  the  sheep-fold  in  the  morning,  after 

15 


feeding,  and  returned  to  his  own  stable  for 
supper.  Fresh  water  and  rock-salt  must  be 
accessible  at  all  seasons  of  the  year. 

From  February  until  the  15th  of  April 
the  ewes  have  rather  short  rations,  consisting 
of  hay,  oat  straw,  oat  hay,  pea  straw,  and 
corn  fodder.  From  the  15th  grain  rations 
commence,  starting  with  about  a  handful  of 
oats  for  each  animal  at  night,  and  running 
up  quickly  to  a  pint  night  and  morning,  of 
oats,  oats  and  bran  mixed,  and  about  a  table- 
spoonful  of  linseed  meal.  Some  root  or  en- 
silage should  also  be  included  in  the  daily 
feed.  The  object  of  this  rapid  increase  of 
food  is  to  bring  the  ewes  all  into  season,  as 
nearly  as  possible,  at  the  same  time,  and  is 
termed  "  flushing  the  ewes." 

If  you  have  a  good  pasture,  put  the  sheep 
on  it  late  in  April,  for  a  few  hours  in  the 
middle  of  the  day,  as  the  exercise  is  conducive 
to  health  and  vigor,  and  it  does  away  with  the 
necessity  of  feeding  the  ensilage. 

During  May,  the  man  in  charge  of  the 
16 


sheep  should  go  through  the  flock  every  morn- 
ing, and  select  a  few  ewes  to  be  kept  in  for  the 
day,  before  allowing  the  majority  of  the  flock 
to  go  into  the  pasture.  Then,  if  the  ewes  have 
been  numbered  when  first  bought,  as  they  al- 
ways should  be,  the  number  of  each  ewe  kept 
in  the  fold  can  be  recorded  day  by  day,  and 
will  furnish  a  guide  as  to  time  of  lambing, 
which  occurs  about  twenty-one  weeks  later. 
When  the  number  of  every  sheep  in  the  fold 
has  been  recorded,  the  ram's  daily  visits  to  the 
fold  must  cease,  of  course,  and  his  heavy  grain 
rations  can  be  gradually  cut  down;  but  at  no 
time  must  he  be  allowed  to  fall  out  of  condi- 
tion. 

After  the  breeding  season  ewes  require  good 
food,  but  not  fattening.  From  June  they 
have,  with  us,  a  shady  pasture  in  which  there 
is  a  running  stream.  When  the  grass  com- 
mences to  fail  rape  is  fed  in  the  yard,  night 
and  morning,  and  the  grain  ration  of  bran 
and  oats  started.  As  the  lambing  time  ap- 
proaches, the  ewe's  condition  must  be  watched 

17 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

closely,  and  rations  balanced  accordingly;  for 
climatical  variations,  from  year  to  year,  affect 
crops  so  materially  that  nothing  but  personal 
observation  of  the  stock  can  be  accepted  as  a 
safe  guide  for  the  relative  quantities  of  dry 
and  succulent  food. 

As  the  sheep  indicated  by  the  record  num- 
bers and  dates  fall  due,  they  are  placed  in  the 
outer  pen  of  the  fold,  and  carefully  watched, 
though  it  is  seldom  a  sheep  needs  assistance. 
After  the  lamb,  or  lambs,  are  born,  it,  or  they, 
and  the  mother  are  confined  in  the  small  pens 
formed  by  the  movable  hurdles,  where  the 
shepherd's  supervision  is  still  necessary,  as 
lambs  occasionally  have  to  be  encouraged  and 
helped  to  seek  nourishment;  in  which  case 
start  the  ewe's  milk  flowing  as  you  would  a 
cow's,  and  coax  the  lamb  to  her.  If  it  is  still 
obstinate,  take  a  little  of  the  milk  and  feed  it 
with  a  spoon. 

The  day  after  lambing,  give  the  ewe  about 
a  pound  of  chopped  pumpkin,  which  possesses 
properties  of  special  value  at  such  times,  and 

18 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

can  also  be  used  in  larger  quantities  advan- 
tageously whenever  other  root  crops  are  being 
fed,  though  excess  must  be  avoided  before  the 
lambing  season,  because  of  the  danger  of  over- 
feeding. On  the  third  day,  if  the  lamb  is 
nursing  properly,  and  everything  seems  right 
with  the  mother,  they  can  both  be  turned  into 
a  larger  stable,  and  the  ewe's  rations  gradually 
increased.  Cabbage,  carrots,  turnips,  and  bran 
are  all  milk  producers,  so  must  form  a  liberal 
percentage  of  the  food,  as  on  the  supply  of 
milk  depends  the  fattening  of  the  lambs, 
which,  to  catch  the  best  prices,  must  be  in 
prime  condition  for  market  in  December  and 
January — eighty  or  ninety  days  from  birth. 

When  the  first  lambs  are  between  two  and 
three  weeks  old,  a  pen  is  constructed  of  hur- 
dles, in  which  there  are  openings  ten  inches 
wide,  and  in  this  is  placed  special  feed  for  the 
lambs,  which  at  first  consists  of  a  little  bran, 
night  and  morning.  Then  coarse  meal  and 
hulled  oats,  coarsely  ground,  are  added;  also 
a  rack  of  clover  hay;  and,  as  they  get  stronger 

19 


and  need  more  nourishment,  a  trough  of  skim 
milk  will  help  them  to  prime  condition,  as  it 
does  broilers.  Lambs  never  seem  to  touch  the 
rock-salt  provided  for  the  ewes,  so  a  little 
coarse  salt  is  mixed  with  their  grain. 

To  insure  early  pasture,  and  succulent  food 
for  fall  and  winter,  some  special  crops  must 
be  grown.  Winter  rye  and  oats  come  in  first, 
and  a  patch  of  rye  will  last  for  years,  if  never 
allowed  to  grow  above  the  second  joint. 
Sheep  should  be  turned  on  it  early,  as  they 
dislike  it  if  the  growth  becomes  rank.  After 
it  has  been  well  eaten  down,  shut  off  the  sheep, 
and  it  will  make  fresh  growth.  Rape  grows 
rapidly  on  good  ground,  and  if  sown  in  May, 
the  first  cutting  can  be  made  in  June,  second 
in  August,  third  in  September.  We  never 
turn  the  sheep  on  to  the  rape,  preferring  to 
feed  it  in  the  fold,  where  the  quantity  eaten 
can  be  controlled.  Soy  beans  and  Canadian 
peas  are  also  sown  to  cure  for  hay,  and  are 
among  the  best  feeds  for  lambing  ewes. 
Sweet  turnips,  carrots,  pumpkins  and  mangel- 

20 


CHAMPION  DOKSET  RAM  AND  EWE 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

wurzels  are  all  required  in  plentiful  quanti- 
ties after  lambing,  and  so  must  not  be  neg- 
lected. 

Disease  has  formed  no  part  of  our  personal 
experience,  but  rigid  preventatives  are  always 
in  use,  such  as  thorough  cleanliness  and  disin- 
fecting the  fold,  clean,  wholesome  food,  pure 
water,  and  a  monthly  foot  bath  of  perman- 
ganate of  potassium — for  which  purpose  Fred 
made  a  trough  of  inch  boards,  six  feet  long, 
two  feet  wide  and  one  foot  deep.  Above  the 
solid  sides  poultry  netting  two  feet  wide  was 
fastened,  which  made  the  trough  into  a  sort 
of  gangway;  and  in  such  a  way  it  is  used, 
when  needed,  being  placed  against  the  door- 
way of  the  sleeping  compartment,  so  that  the 
sheep  must  pass  through  it  on  the  way  into 
the  outer  compartment  of  the  fold.  Many  of 
our  neighbors  laugh  at  the  last  preventative, 
but  they  have  not  lived  in  Australia,  where 
outbreaks  of  foot-rot  are  the  ranchman's 
scourge. 

There  are  two  sources  of  profit,  in  this  most 
21 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

profitable  branch  of  sheep  keeping,  rarely  cal- 
culated— wool  and  manure;  yet  the  first  will 
add  at  least  $75  to  the  yearly  income,  if  only 
fifty  sheep  are  kept;  and  the  latter  is  of  im- 
mense value  to  the  farm. 


22 


CHAPTER    TWO 

WINTER  VIOLETS 

To  the  majority,  violet  culture  on  the  prac- 
tical farm  may  seem  an  incongruity;  but,  in 
our  vicinity,  custom  has  removed  the  stigma 
of  oddity,  commercial  enterprise  being  equally 
divided  between  dairy  farming  and  hot-house 
floriculture — the  latter  industry  having  grad- 
ually spread  from  its  original  village  bound- 
aries to  the  outlying  farms,  until  conservatories 
in  close  proximity  to  old-fashioned  barns  ex- 
cite no  comment. 

Of  course  such  a  fascinating  occupation 
would  have  been  seized  upon  at  once  as  the 
most  congenial  means  of  supplementing  our 
income,  had  not  the  exchequer  vetoed  funda- 
mental outlay;  but  as  it  did,  most  emphatic- 
ally, we  had  to  turn  our  commercial  thoughts 

in  other  directions,  and  restrict  our  floral  am- 

23 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

bitions  to  the  limitations  of  window  culture. 

The  casement  faces  southeast  in  the  living- 
room,  and  is  broad  and  deep — a  perfectly 
ideal  place  for  plants.  Geraniums,  fuchsias, 
and  even  roses  joyed  our  hearts  by  blooming 
all  through  the  winter;  but  the  violets  just 
sulked;  at  least,  I  know  no  other  way  of  ex- 
plaining their  condition.  They  seemed  healthy, 
but  the  flowers  were  few,  and  had  a  hungry, 
discontented  look.  The  roots  were  examined 
for  worms ;  special  plant  food  was  supplied ; 
then  the  masculine  mind  of  the  household  con- 
ceived the  idea  that  the  atmosphere  of  the 
room  was  too  dry,  and  skimped  lunches  for  a 
week  to  bring  home  a  large  fern  glass  for 
them. 

Even  then  they  didn't  seem  contented;  so 
the  next  winter  we  took  the  advice  of  a  friendly 
neighbor,  and  made  a  case  to  fit  into  the  win- 
dow of  a  small  room  over  the  kitchen,  which 
was  always  comfortably  warm,  as  the  chimney 
ran  through  it.  The  case  was  only  a  rough 
board  arrangement,  two  feet  and  a  half  long, 

24 


A  PERFECT  LEAF  AND  FLOWER 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

two  feet  wide,  with  sloping  sides  and  a  glass 
cover,  like  a  small  hotbed,  in  fact;  but  we  had 
really  nice,  healthy,  fragrant  flowers  from  De- 
cember until  March  for  two  years. 

Then  the  general  enlargement  of  the  farm 
brought  about,  among  other  things,  the  re- 
construction of  the  brooder  house;  for  several 
years'  experience  had  convinced  me  that  in- 
dividual brooders  were  better  and  more  eco- 
nomical for  the  infant  chicks  than  the  con- 
tinuous pipe  system  with  which  the  house  had 
originally  been  fitted.  This  alteration  threw 
the  heating  apparatus  of  a  twenty-five- foot 
house  out  of  commission,  so  the  idea  of  a  con- 
servatory immediately  suggested  itself  for 
consideration,  and  was  quickly  carried  out, 
though  I  suppose  "  glass  shed,"  and  not  "  con- 
servatory," is  the  term  for  the  building  we 
erected. 

The  stove  and  boiler  were  already  stationed 
in  a  dug-out  compartment  between  the  brooder 
and  feed  houses,  which  ran  from  east  to  west, 
facing  south.  To  minimize  cost,  we  concluded 

25 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

to  build  a  lean-to  shed  of  glass  in  front  of  the 
feed  house,  which  would  serve  as  a  back  wall, 
and  afford  shelter  from  the  north  winds.  Mr. 
Fred  and  Sidney,  both  being  handy  men,  un- 
dertook the  building,  which  was  no  more  dif- 
ficult than  a  hen-house. 

The  feed  house  was  eighteen  feet  long,  so, 
of  course,  the  "  conservatory "  had  to  corre- 
spond. A  strip  of  2  by  4-inch  sawed  cedar 
was  nailed  across  the  front  of  the  feed  house, 
seven  feet  from  the  ground,  and  strengthened 
by  four  posts  of  4  by  4-in  joists,  set  one  and  a 
half  feet  in  the  ground — one  at  each  end,  and 
two  five  feet  apart;  all  nailed  to  feed  house 
wall.  Full  length  of  posts,  eight  feet  and  a 
half.  Four  front  posts,  of  same,  five  feet  and 
a  half  long,  to  be  set  one  and  a  half  in  the 
ground.  Two  posts  for  middle  supports  in 
ends  of  house,  six  feet  long.  Thirty-nine  feet 
of  joisting,  for  front  and  ends  of  ridges. 
Four  rafters,  2^2  by  2^ -inch  scantling,  twelve 
feet  long;  one  of  same  for  center,  fifteen  feet 
long.  From  half  a  foot  below  the  surface  of 

26 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

the  ground,  to  one  and  a  half  above,  the  front 
and  ends  of  the  house  were  boarded  up  solidly, 
and  took  seventy-eight  feet  of  1-foot  1-inch 
hemlock  boards  for  the  inside,  and  about  four- 
teen 6-foot  slabs  for  the  outside.  The  latter 
were  cut  into  2-foot  lengths,  and  made  quite  a 
pretty  rustic  base  around  the  house.  The 
rafters  were  grooved  to  the  depth  of  a  quar- 
ter of  an  inch,  to  make  a  support  for  the 
sashes. 

For  the  roof  ten  ordinary  hotbed  sashes 
were  used.  For  the  front,  above  the  solid  base, 
three  real  conservatory  ventilators,  two  feet 
wide  and  four  feet  long,  were  used.  The 
woodwork  and  one  row  of  nine-inch  lights 
filled  in  the  remaining  three  feet  of  the  entire 
fifteen  feet  of  length.  The  ends  of  the  house 
were  all  glass,  and  consisted  of  three  graded 
frames  for  each  end.  (The  lumber  yard  in 
the  next  village,  being  supported  almost  en- 
tirely by  florists,  made  special  graded  frames 
and  grooved  scantling.) 

The  building,  extending  from  the  front  of 
27 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

the  feed  house,  covered  the  windows,  so  one  of 
them  was  utilized  as  a  door,  and  wras  the  only 
entrance  to  the  conservatory,  the  inside  fitting 
of  which  consisted  of  a  bed  foundation,  twelve 
inches  deep  and  five  feet  wide,  all  round  front, 
ends  and  back,  excepting,  of  course,  the  three 
feet  occupied  by  the  door.  These  foundations 
absorbed  one  hundred  and  eighty-eight  feet  of 
1-foot  boards  and  fifty-six  feet  of  4-inch 
scantling,  for  posts  and  supports. 

The  stove  and  boiler  being  in  place,  the  only 
necessary  change  consisted  in  readjusting  the 
elbows,  to  allow  the  pipes  to  be  carried  across 
the  corner  of  the  feed  house  and  round  the 
conservatory. 

It  is  impossible  to  give  an  accurate  estimate 
of  the  cost,  because  no  extra  labor  was  em- 
ployed actually  for  the  house  itself,  though  we 
got  a  man  from  the  village,  at  a  dollar  a  day, 
to  help  out  with  the  general  farm  work  for  a 
week.  And  then,  of  course,  lumber  was  much 
cheaper  seven  years  ago;  and  our  old  account 
book  simply  says:  "  Cost  of  violet  house,  $78," 

28 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

which  is  not  very  enlightening;  but,  never  hav- 
ing thought  about  chronicling  our  home  affairs 
for  public  perusal,  accounts  were  kept  in  a 
primitively  collective  way. 

When  the  house  was  finished,  having  no 
properly  prepared  mold,  three  loads  were 
bought,  at  a  dollar  a  load,  from  a  man  who 
had  more  than  he  needed.  The  plants  cost 
fifteen  dollars,  and  coal,  for  the  entire  season, 
eighteen — which  brought  the  outlay  up  to  $114. 

The  first  season  we  marketed  one  hundred 
and  eighty-five  bunches  of  flowers,  at  sixty 
cents  each,  which  left  the  house  three  dollars 
in  debt.  However,  the  following  year,  the 
principal  yield  of  flowers  came  in  December 
and  January,  when  they  brought  a  dollar  a 
bunch;  and  there  was  an  increase  of  fifty 
bunches,  making  the  return  for  the  season 
$175,  against  three  dollars  debt  and  twenty 
dollars  for  coal,  which  left  $152  for  labor  and 
profit. 

Labor  can't  be  counted,  as  the  floral  busi- 
ness was  not  attempted  until  the  farm  pros- 

29 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

perity  permitted  my  husband's  remaining  at 
home  and  devoting  himself  to  a  long-cher- 
ished piece  of  literary  work,  which  became  so 
dangerously  absorbing  that,  for  health's  sake, 
some  counterbalancing  interest  and  vigorous 
physical  labor  had  to  be  invented.  All  being 
fair  in  love  and  war,  I  considered  it  a  justi- 
fiable deception  to  have  the  conservatory  built, 
stocked,  and  then,  at  the  most  critical  time, 
discover  that  I  had  undertaken  more  than  I 
could  manage.  The  scheme  acted  beautifully, 
for  the  dear  man's  love  of  plants,  and  desire 
to  help  me,  led  him  to  desert  his  desk  for  sev- 
eral hours  a  day,  until  he  gradually  became 
honestly  interested,  and  assumed  entire  care  of 
the  plants,  leaving  only  the  stoker's  work  to 
Sidney,  who  had  mastered  all  the  idiosyncra- 
sies of  the  heating  apparatus  during  the  two 
years  it  was  in  use  in  the  nursery  section  of 
the  brooder  house. 

After  the  house,  the  first  requisite  in  violet 
culture  is  the  mold  in  which  to  grow  the 
plants.  It  must  be  of  medium  consistency — 

30 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

that  is,  neither  heavy  and  clayey,  nor  light  and 
sandy,  but  a  happy  blending  of  both — and 
fibrous  in  character.  The  latter  requisite  is 
best  obtained  by  using  the  residue  of  old  turfs. 
Following  the  usual  custom  of  large  grow- 
ers in  our  vicinity,  a  strip  of  meadow,  in  which 
there  is  a  good  percentage  of  clover,  is  mowed 
in  September  or  October;  then  plowed  to  a 
depth  of  three  and  a  half  inches.  The  sods 
are  sprinkled  with  lime  and  left  until  Decem- 
ber frosts  have  had  an  opportunity  to  kill 
embryo  weeds  and  insects,  mellow  the  earth, 
and  hasten  the  disintegration  of  the  roots. 
Early  in  February  and  March,  just  as  weather 
permits,  the  sods  are  carted  to  an  open  shed 
at  the  back  of  the  feed  house,  which  is  built 
of  cedar  poles  and  slabs.  During  September 
the  droppings  from  the  gutter  in  the  cow  barn 
were  collected  each  morning,  to  avoid  their  be- 
coming mixed  with  straw  or  bedding,  and 
stored  under  the  shed,  so  that  they  should  be 
in  condition  to  mix  with  the  sods  in  making 
the  compost. 

31 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

The  manure  being  collected  in  its  pristine 
strength,  and  kept  under  shelter  to  mitigate 
waste,  a  very  small  percentage  was  used — a 
one-inch  layer  being  alternated  with  a  four- 
inch  layer  of  sod  in  the  construction  of  the 
compost  heaps,  which  are  made  three  feet  wide 
and  four  feet  high.  The  entire  mass  is  thor- 
oughly forked  over  and  restacked  two  or  three 
times  during  March  and  April,  to  allow  the 
escape  of  foul  gases,  and  to  assure  a  mellow 
condition  by  May,  at  which  time  the  coarse 
screen  belonging  to  our  concrete  outfit  is  set 
up  on  four  posts  in  the  shed,  the  compost  is 
passed  through  it,  a  few  pailfuls  being  put  in 
at  a  time,  and  raked  about  with  a  forked  hoe. 
This  process  effectually  breaks  up  any  remain- 
ing clods,  the  screen  being  the  size  used  at 
stone  crushers  to  divide  the  first  and  second 
gravel.  The  fine  roots  and  broken  particles 
all  pass  through,  supplying  the  fibrous  quali- 
ties; but  the  heavy  roots  and  stones  are  held 
back. 

As  screened,  the  mold  is  put  into  a  wheel- 
32 


A  STRONG,  HEALTHY  PLANT,  WHICH  BEARS  131  FLOWERS 
IN  A  SEASON 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

barrow  and  taken  around  to  the  front  of  the 
house,  where  it  is  shoveled  in  through  the  win- 
dows, or,  as  florists  designate  them,  ventilators. 
When  the  bed-frames  are  quite  full,  they  are 
raked  level,  then  gently  smoothed  off  with  the 
edge  of  a  strip  of  board  just  long  enough  to 
reach  across  the  bed. 

Transplanting  is  done  at  once,  before  the 
soil  has  time  to  settle.  We  always  grow  the 
young  plants  in  boxes  which  are  easily  han- 
dled, so  the  work  is  quickly  accomplished. 
The  plants  are  watered  about  half  an  hour 
before  they  are  carried  into  the  feed  house, 
where  a  small  kitchen  table  acts  as  a  potting 
bench.  Any  dead  or  sickly  leaves  are  trimmed 
off,  and  then,  with  a  sharp  knife,  the  soil  is 
cut  through  in  each  direction  between  the  rows, 
to  sever  the  rootlets,  and  make  it  possible  to 
scoop  out  each  root  with  its  accompanying 
wrapping  of  moist  earth,  and  slip  it  gently 
into  the  hole  made  ready  to  receive  it  in  the 
permanent  bed.  This  prevents  the  change  of 
environment  being  a  shock,  as  it  must  be  when 

33 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

the  earth  is  allowed  to  fall  away  from  such 
fragile  roots. 

The  plants  stand  in  rows  nine  inches  apart 
each  way,  when  the  beds  are  completely  filled, 
which  is  always  before  the  end  of  May  in  our 
neighborhood.  At  this  time  the  sun  has  gained 
so  much  strength  that  the  glass  roof  has  to  be 
given  a  coat  of  whitewash  to  soften  the  glare; 
and  the  frames  are  entirely  removed  from  the 
ends  of  the  house,  double  mosquito  netting 
taking  their  place,  which  affords  some  shelter, 
yet  allows  a  free  current  of  air.  The  ventila- 
tors are  similarly  covered,  for  we  are  firmly 
convinced  that  by  excluding  moths  and  other 
winged  insects,  the  plants  are  effectually  pro- 
tected against  innumerable  pests,  such  as  saw- 
fly,  gall-fly,  maggot,  etc.,  all  of  which  cause 
trouble  and  jeopardize  success. 

The  whitewashing  was  neglected  until  after 
the  house  was  in  use  the  first  year,  but  since 
then  it  has  always  been  done  before  the  earth 
was  put  in. 

Unless  the  weather  is  very  hot  and  dry  at 
84 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

the  time  of  transplanting,  it  is  better  not  to 
water  for  forty-six  hours,  by  which  time  the 
soil  will  have  settled  sufficiently  to  prevent  the 
roots  being  disturbed;  but,  of  course,  condi- 
tions must  control,  as  they  invariably  do,  all 
such  matters. 

My  dear  "  gardener  man  "  has  a  compre- 
hensive sympathy  with  plants  that  guides  him 
to  apparently  daring  risks  sometimes.  An 
expert  violet  grower  was  in  the  house  one  day 
and  remarked,  in  an  insinuating  way,  that  the 
beds  looked  dry;  to  be  told  by  the  man  of  in- 
stinct that  the  earth  would  have  to  wait  for  a 
drink  until  the  plants  said  they  were  thirsty — 
which,  I  have  no  doubt,  sounded  like  tomfool 
idiosyncrasy  to  the  old  grower;  but  really  it 
was  unconscious  perspicacity,  for  there  are 
times  when  even  moisture-loving  plants  like 
violets  derive  benefit  from  an  abstinence, 
which  at  other  times  would  cause  them  to 
droop  and  die.  It  is  the  gift  to  discern  just 
such  uncertainties  of  appetite  in  animal  and 
plant  life  that  makes  the  really  successful 

35 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

farmer;  but,  until  the  amateur  is  sure  of  pos- 
sessing the  instinct  to  feel  such  wants,  it  is 
better  to  follow  generally  accepted  rules.  The 
one  given  us  by  all  authorities  on  watering 
violets  is  to  keep  the  beds  moist,  without  ever 
allowing  them  to  become  wet. 

Until  we  had  the  hydraulic  ram  put  into  the 
spring,  to  force  water  up  into  the  farm  build- 
ings and  hot-houses,  spraying  would  have  been 
a  difficulty  had  it  not  been  for  Sidney's  sug- 
gesting the  knapsack  spraying  outfit,  which 
idea  was  hailed  with  joy  by  his  master,  as  it 
facilitated  the  work;  and  the  weight  of  water, 
being  suspended  from  the  shoulders,  proved  a 
splendid  counteraction  to  the  stoop  of  desk 
work. 

This  same  spraying  machine  was  filled  with 
soapsuds  once  a  week  for  the  first  month  or 
six  weeks,  after  transplanting,  and  every  leaf 
thoroughly  sprayed  above  and  below,  as  a 
safeguard  against  the  red  spider.  Best  white 
soap  was  used,  and  the  suds  made  quite  strong. 
It  is  surprising  how  rapidly  this  pernicity 

36 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

work  can  be  accomplished,  when  familiarity 
has  made  the  handling  of  such  fragility  an 
easy  task. 

After  the  middle  of  October  spraying  the 
foliage  is  omitted  entirely,  water  being  sup- 
plied only  to  the  roots. 

Heat  and  ventilation  commences  to  be  a 
problem  as  the  season  advances,  for  violets 
must  have  quantities  of  fresh  air,  and  cannot 
stand  much  heat;  therefore,  forcing  them  for 
winter  blossoms  presents  difficulties  not  ex- 
perienced with  other  hot-house  plants.  To 
supply  fresh  air  in  a  conservatory,  when  the 
outside  air  is  below  zero,  requires  the  exercise 
of  much  gumption,  especially  as  the  house 
thermometer  should  never  go  above  sixty  de- 
grees— and  five  lower  are  to  be  preferred — in 
the  daytime;  during  the  night  forty  degrees 
is  maximum.  B.  T.  Galloway,  to  whose  valu- 
able book  we  owe  much  of  our  success  and 
pleasure,  gives,  as  a  safe  standard,  ten  degrees 
above  freezing. 

Cultivation  of  the  beds  commences  when  the 
87 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

plants  are  set  out,  and  must  never  cease  until 
the  foliage  covers  the  surface.  A  small  hand- 
rake  will  keep  the  soil  light  and  kill  embryo 
weeds,  if  it  is  used  diligently.  A  weed,  a  dead 
or  faded  leaf,  should  be  considered  a  disgrace. 

Runners  and  stray  flowers  will  commence  to 
appear  on  some  of  the  plants  in  August,  and 
must  be  removed  as  soon  as  noticed,  for  they 
steal  strength  from  the  main  plant,  which 
needs  all  the  reserve  vitality  it  can  gather  for 
the  blossoming  season. 

About  the  first  of  September  horse  manure, 
which  has  been  collected  early  in  the  season 
and  repeatedly  worked  over  with  a  fork  until 
thoroughly  pulverized,  is  spread  over  the  beds 
— just  a  thin  layer — and  worked  well  into  the 
soil.  This  is  usually  the  last  cultivation  that  is 
possible,  as  the  foliage  develops  so  rapidly 
after  the  dressing  that  the  soil  is  soon  com- 
pletely covered. 

The  flowers  should  start  in  November,  and 
keep  abundant  until  April.  The  first  warm 
days  great  care  must  be  observed  to  keep  the 

38 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

house  cool,  for  an  excess  of  heat  will  cause 
an  abnormal  rush  of  blossoms  and  spoil  the 
supply  for  Easter,  when  prices  go  up  as  high, 
or  sometimes  even  higher,  than  at  Christmas. 
When  the  season  is  over,  which  is  usually  to- 
ward the  end  of  April,  the  old  plants,  on  which 
so  much  care  has  been  lavished,  are  ruthlessly 
torn  up;  for  the  poor  little  victims  can  only 
be  profitably  forced  to  winter  flowering  for 
one  season,  and  even  during  that  short  period 
of  time  disease  is  so  liable  to  attack  them  that, 
to  prevent  infection,  they  are  cremated  on  a 
fiery  bed  of  cedar  boughs.  Conforming  to 
this  most  necessary  edict  of  commercial  violet 
culture  is,  to  us,  an  annual  regret.  The  soil 
is  also  removed  to  a  depth  of  six  inches,  carted 
away,  and  spread  broadcast  on  some  field  to 
be  plowed  up;  the  house  cleansed,  fumigated, 
and  refilled  as  at  the  commencement. 

PROPAGATING 

Confiscating  the  old  plants  each  season  of 
course  necessitates  raising  young  ones  to  take 

39 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

their  place,  so  that  at  least  one  half  the  year's 
work  consists  in  propagating  and  caring  for 
the  young  plants. 

There  are  many  varieties  of  violets,  and  as 
many  methods  of  propagating  have  been  in 
vogue  in  the  past;  but  the  varieties  grown 
under  glass  for  winter  flowers  have  narrowed 
to  the  Lady  Hune  Campbell  and  the  Marie 
Louise,  for  blossoms,  some  florists  adding  a 
few  plants  of  the  Dorsett,  a  single  flowering 
variety  which  develops  an  abundance  of  well- 
shaped  leaves  with  long  stems,  which  constitute 
their  chief  utility  to  the  commercial  grower; 
though  there  are  indications  that  the  single 
violet  is  coming  into  fashion  again,  and  if  so 
the  Dorsett  will  undoubtedly  be  the  favorite. 

Our  experiences  have  been  with  the  three 
above-named  varieties.  At  first  the  Campbell 
and  Marie  Louise  constituted  our  stock,  and  dif- 
ferent methods  of  propagating  were  followed. 
Subsequently  the  Campbells  were  dropped, 
and  about  one  hundred  Dorsetts  to  every  one 
thousand  Marie  Louises  were  grown,  to  insure 

40 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

a  plentiful  supply  of  leaves  to  garnish  the 
bunches  without  robbing  the  Marie  Louise 
plants,  which  should  be  allowed  to  retain  their 
foliage  all  through  the  flowering  season,  as  it 
supports  the  blossoms,  which  are  prone  to 
spring  from  the  side  of  the  crown  (center  of 
the  plant),  and  their  own  weight  will  bear 
them  on  to  the  soil,  if  not  protected  by  the 
leaves. 

Of  course,  to  establish  the  beds,  plants  old 
enough  to  be  set  out  had  to  be  bought ;  but  such 
extravagance  is  not  permissible,  nor  advisable, 
when  there  is  a  foundation  stock  to  multiply 
from. 

From  the  1st  of  February  to  the  end  of 
March  is  the  time  to  start  the  nursery  trays, 
which  we  make  out  of  laths  and  two  strips  of 
board  one  inch  thick,  three  inches  wide,  and 
fourteen  inches  long  for  each  end.  Cut  the 
slats  in  half,  and  nail  two,  a  quarter  of  an  inch 
apart,  on  to  the  strips  of  board.  Then  put  on 
two  laths  (one  slat  cut  in  half)  for  the  sides, 
and  the  tray  is  made.  Spread  a  layer  of  pot- 

41 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

ting  moss  to  prevent  the  contents  running 
through  the  open  spaces,  which  cannot  be 
omitted,  as  they  are  needed  to  supply  drainage 
and  air. 

Sand  is  the  correct  filling  for  the  trays,  and 
nothing  else  is  quite  as  good;  but,  unless  the 
sand  can  be  got  from  a  clean  sand-bank,  it  is 
safer  to  use  earth  from  the  compost  heap, 
mixed  with  one-third  more  light  soil;  for  sand 
that  has  been  exposed  to  all  sorts  of  contami- 
nating influences  will  contain  objectionable 
qualities. 

Prepare  quantities  of  the  trays  according  to 
the  amount  of  plants  desired,  remembering 
that  all  cuttings  will  not  make  strong  plants, 
and  allowing  goodly  surplus  to  avoid  shortage 
at  bedding  time.  Each  tray  will  hold  about 
one  hundred  and  eighty  shoots,  and  each  old 
plant  will  average  ten;  so  approximating  the 
supply  and  necessary  tray  space  is  not  difficult. 

In  February  the  beds  will  be  covered  with 
foliage.  Divide  the  leaves  carefully,  and 
several  offshoots  will  be  found  nestling  under 

42 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

each  parent  plant.  These  babies  usually  have 
a  goodly  supply  of  rootlets,  though  they  rarely 
penetrate  the  soil,  being  nourished  merely  by 
the  humid  atmosphere  of  their  semi-dark  re- 
treat. Put  a  layer  of  wet  moss  at  the  bottom 
of  a  covered  basket  or  pail,  and  then  with  a 
sharp  knife  sever  each  shoot  from  its  parent, 
and  drop  it  immediately  into  the  basket;  other- 
wise they  will  wilt  before  sufficient  have  been 
collected  to  fill  a  tray. 

The  sand  must  be  moist  and  firmly  pressed 
down  in  the  tray.  Take  each  plant  out  of  the 
basket  and  trim  off  most  of  the  rootlets,  also 
the  larger  leaves,  and  plant  immediately,  an 
inch  apart,  in  the  wet  sand.  They  must  not 
be  exposed  to  any  direct  light  or  allowed  to 
become  dry.  As  the  trays  are  filled,  we  stand 
them  on  a  shelf,  which  was  purposely  added, 
under  the  beds  the  second  season.  The  posi- 
tion is  most  favorable  for  the  first  few  weeks, 
but  when  the  work  is  being  carried  on  on  a 
large  scale  a  special  shed  should  be  built  as  a 
nursery. 

43 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

No  matter  where  the  trays  stand,  they  must 
be  well  shaded.  It  takes  from  six  to  eight 
weeks  for  real  rootlets  to  develop,  during 
which  time  more  trays,  about  eight  inches 
deep,  must  be  made  on  the  plan  of  the  first 
set,  .only  using  simple  slats  instead  of  the 
laths,  putting  first  a  layer  of  moss,  then  half 
an  inch  of  coarse  coal  ashes,  an  inch  of  fine 
ashes,  and  fill  to  the  top  with  earth  from  the 
compost  heap,  which  has  been  screened  through 
a  finer  sieve  than  that  used  for  the  house. 

Use  the  greatest  care  in  transplanting  babies 
to  their  new  homes,  which,  when  filled,  can  be 
set  outside  in  cold  frames  if  there  is  no  nursery 
house.  As  before,  they  need  shade;  but  more 
light,  and  plenty  of  fresh  air. 

The  brooder  houses  are  getting  empty  by 
the  time  this  second  planting  takes  place,  so 
we  tried  setting  trays  in  there,  putting  two  into 
each  window;  but  it  was  not  a  good  plan.  The 
plants  need  top  light  to  make  uniform  growth, 
so  the  next  makeshift  was  a  narrow  bench  in 
the  house  itself.  Still  later  the  original  house 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

was  given  over  to  nursery  work  only,  and  the 
beds  were  used  as  benches  on  which  to  stand 
the  trays,  which  "  our  gardener  "  prefers  to 
using  the  beds  themselves,  even  for  the  second 
planting. 

Spraying  has  to  be  attended  to  regularly 
three  times  a  week,  to  keep  down  the  red 
spider.  The  plants  remain  in  the  second  trays 
until  transplanted  to  the  permanent  beds  in 
May. 

DISEASES 

If  healthy  stock  is  procured  to  start  with, 
the  gardener  virtually  controls  the  situation, 
as  strict  cleanliness  in  the  houses  and  observant 
watchfulness  which  notes  any  odd  appearances 
of  flowers,  leaves,  or  roots  are  the  most  potent 
checks  to  disease. 

A  plant  with  curled  or  spotted  leaves,  or 
ragged  flowers,  should  at  once  be  removed,  for 
these  are  symptoms  of  disease  which,  if  neg- 
lected will  become  epidemic. 

45 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

SPOT 

is  the  most  prevalent  of  violet  diseases — in 
fact,  authorities  say  that  the  fungi  from  which 
it  originates  are  always  to  be  found  where  vio- 
lets are  grown;  therefore  it  must  be  fought, 
even  when  not  perceptible,  for  it  will  demolish 
a  whole  houseful  of  promising  plants  in  a  few 
weeks  if  neglected. 

The  first  visible  symptoms  are  little  watery 
blisters  on  the  leaves  and  a  faint,  sickly  odor, 
wrhich  can  easily  be  noticed  the  first  thing  in 
the  morning  before  the  house  has  been  venti- 
lated. Any  woman  who  has  experienced  the 
disagreeable  consequences  of  a  neglected  vase 
of  flowers  will  be  able  to  detect  the  odor  of 
spot,  which  often  attracts  attention  before  the 
disease  has  been  noticed  on  the  leaves.  From 
a  speck  no  larger  than  a  pinpoint  the  blister 
will  grow  in  rings  varying  between  sage- 
green  and  yellow  in  color.  Humid  weather, 
or  a  damp,  badly  ventilated  house,  will  develop 
the  spores,  which  look  like  minute  hairs.  These 

46 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

atoms  float  about  in  the  air,  eventually  settling 
on  some  plant;  and,  if  the  foliage  happens  to 
be  wet,  it  makes  a  congenial  home,  and  the 
pest  grows  and  develops  another  spot.  That, 
in  turn,  will  propagate  thousands  of  spores. 

There  is  no  remedy  for  the  disease  except 
prevention  and  instant  destruction  of  every 
affected  leaf.  The  first  depends  principally 
on  intelligent  spraying,  which  means  choos- 
ing bright  days,  and  concluding  the  bath  by 
eleven  o'clock,  so  that  there  is  plenty  of  time 
for  the  leaves  to  dry  before  evening,  and 
eventually  withholding  the  water  from  the 
foliage  after  October  1st.  The  second  is  cov- 
ered by  watchful  care  and  cleanliness.  No 
half -dead  leaves  or  flowers  must  be  thrown 
down  to  decay  in  the  house,  for  if  they  do, 
they  will  surely  develop  the  fungi  which  cause 
the  spot.  Burning  is  the  only  safe  way  to  dis- 
pose of  waste  matter. 


There  are  several  other  leaf  troubles,  such  as 
Wart    Disease,    technically    called    (Edema; 

47 


Scald,  or  Edge-burn,  other  fungi  which  cause 
the  leaf  to  become  soft  and  slimy. 

The  flowers  and  roots  have  some  special  dis- 
eases, but,  as  doctoring  is  of  little  use,  and  they 
all  spring  from  fungi  or  parasites  which  are 
developed  by  indiscreet  watering  and  ventila- 
tion or  untidiness  and  general  slipshod  meth- 
ods, there  is  really  no  use  in  wading  through 
several  descriptions  of  diseases  whose  remedies 
are  a  reiteration  of  the  cautions  already  given. 

MARKETING 

The  usual  market  bunches  contain  fifty 
flowers  and  a  border  of  leaves.  Both  must 
be  gathered  with  stems  as  long  as  the  plants 
will  allow.  It  requires  care  not  to  injure  the 
developing  bud  when  removing  the  full-blown 
flowrers  from  the  crowns. 

The  ordinary  custom  is  to  make  up  perfectly 
circular  bunches,  the  flowers  being  closely  and 
evenly  grouped  and  garnished  with  a  collar  of 
leaves.  Needless  to  say,  faded  or  misshapen 

48 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

leaves  or  blossoms  should  be  rejected,  for  one 
or  two  blemishes  will  ruin  the  entire  effect,  and 
if  a  commission  man  or  wholesale  dealer  sees 
such  defects,  the  consignment  may  be  con- 
demned as  inferior. 

As  with  all  produce,  the  attractive-looking 
wares  please  the  eye,  and  are  given  the  best 
places.  One  florist  takes  all  our  flowers,  and, 
as  his  customers  are  wealthy,  fashionable  peo- 
ple, I  persuaded  him  to  try  a  few  innovations 
one  winter,  which  were  so  successful  that  he 
has  a  list  of  special  orders  to  be  filled  every 
day  during  the  winter  at  special  prices. 

Instead  of  the  circular  bunches,  we  made 
them  up  with  one  side  higher  than  the  other, 
so  that,  when  worn,  the  beauty  of  the  entire 
bunch  showed  fully.  Oblong  sprays,  to  be 
worn  with  evening  dresses,  and  some  egrets 
for  the  hair,  were  among  the  oddities  of  shape 
supplied. 

We  pack  twenty-four  bunches  in  papier- 
mache  telescope  cases,  and  even  in  the  most 
severe  weather  have  no  trouble  about  freezing, 

49 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

as  the  large  rose  growers  in  our  village  and 
several  other  places  on  the  road  to  New  York 
made  an  arrangement  with  a  man  some  years 
ago  to  run  a  sort  of  private  brigade,  using 
large  vans  provided  with  heat,  in  which  the 
boxes  are  collected  from  the  different  green- 
houses and  driven  straight  to  New  York  dur- 
ing the  night,  and  delivered  to  the  wholesale 
house  without  any  exposure  or  change  of  tem- 
perature, as  is  the  case  when  shipped  by  rail- 
road. Growers  living  in  a  neighborhood 
where  there  is  no  such  convenience  will  have  to 
exercise  special  care  in  boxing  violets  in  the 
winter,  as  they  are  easily  frozen. 


50 


CHAPTER   THREE 

5 

TILLAGE  AND  ROTATION  OF  CROPS  AS  RE- 
GENERATORS 

AFTER  taking  over  the  whole  of  the  Wilbur 
farm  lands,  we  had  about  one  hundred  and  five 
acres  of  what  had  been  tillable  ground,  the 
return  from  which  was  so  unsatisfactory  that 
it  seemed  safe  to  risk  trying  some  of  the  meth- 
ods of  tilling  and  cropping  which  were  being 
reported  by  experimenters  as  successful.  Such 
an  affront  to  traditional  custom  would,  in  all 
probability,  have  caused  mutiny  and  desertion 
had  our  help  been  really,  truly  bucolic;  for  the 
ordinary  farm  man  is  so  bigotedly  devoted  to 
his  forefather's  blunders  that,  even  when  he 
takes  an  intelligent  interest  in  the  world's 
general  progress,  he  scoffs  at  agricultural  im- 
provement, and  cannot  be  depended  upon  to 
give  a  new  idea  an  honest  trial.  Fortunately 

51 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

our  Mr.  Fred's  reverence  for  ancestral  achieve- 
ment had  dwindled  during  his  wanderings,  so 
he  was  amenable  to  reason,  and  willingly  gave 
everything  wre  elected  to  try  a  fair  chance. 

Our  holding,  like  the  majority  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, was  suffering  from  indiscreet  tillage 
and  cropping.  Past  generations  have  labored 
under  the  impression  that  if  corn,  potatoes,  or 
cabbage  "  done  fine  "  on  a  certain  patch  of 
ground,  they  had  an  affinity  for  that  particu- 
lar spot,  and  there  they  were  planted  year  after 
year. 

In  pioneer  days  the  virgin  soil  contained 
such  a  bountiful  supply  of  plant  food  that  it 
endured  many  seasons  of  man's  mismanage- 
ment before  showing  signs  of  the  ruin  which 
j  was  being  wrought.  The  decline  was  so  grad- 
ual at  first,  that  it  was  only  when  climatical 
conditions  were  adverse,  that  the  soil's  inability 
to  nourish  crops  was  noticed  with  any  alarm. 
Then  the  farmer  did  not  blame  himself  or  his 
forefathers,  because  his  want  of  knowledge 
prevented  his  realizing  that  they  were  at  fault. 

52 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

Naturally,  conditions  grew  worse  in  subse- 
quent years,  and  the  wail  about  "  no  money 
in  farming "  was  taken  up  by  the  younger 
generation  as  an  excuse  for  deserting  their 
holdings.  The  influx  of  country  youths  to 
city  offices  and  stores  commenced.  The  in- 
creasing number  of  abandoned  farms  started 
the  Government  on  a  course  of  investigation. 
Soils  were  analyzed  by  experts,  experiments 
were  tried,  and  many  beneficial  facts  discov- 
ered which,  when  taken  into  general  use,  will 
assuredly  restore  fertility  to  the  fields  made 
barren  by  man's  ignorance  of  nature's  laws. 

But  there!  What's  the  use  of  railing  at  the 
past?  Our  wonderful  improvements  of  to-day 
and  to-morrow  will,  in  all  probability,  be  re- 
garded as  pitifully  primitive  one  hundred  years 
hence,  and,  after  all,  the  farmer  has  been  no 
more  carelessly  profligate  with  the  soil's  pow- 
ers than  the  city  man  with  his  mind  and  body. 
Nature's  laws  are  virtually  the  same  for  all 
living  things.  Exercise,  rest,  food,  drink,  and 
air  are  all  equally  essential;  excess  or  insuf- 

58 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

ficiency  of  any  one  dangerous.  Our  business 
man  overtaxes  mind  and  body,  and,  like  the 
soil,  gradually  breaks  down  and  tries  for  the 
simple  life  he  deserted  in  youth. 

It  seems  such  a  pity  that  old  Father  Time 
does  not  prevent  the  pendulum  of  affairs 
taking  such  desperate  plunges.  A  nice,  even 
wigwag  would  save  poor  humans  lots  of 
sackcloth  and  ashes,  though  my  grandmother 
may  have  been  right  in  saying  that  "  from  the 
ashes  of  repentance  springs  the  spirit  of  im- 
provement " — which  is  certainly  appropriate 
to  the  present  agricultural  improvement. 

The  necessity  for  some  knowledge  of  soils 
is  very  apparent  when  we  realize  that  there 
may  be  several  distinct  qualities  on  one  farm. 
The  Wilbur  tillable  land  was  divided  into  three 
kinds:  First  quite  a  good,  rich,  black  mold, 
then  heavy  and  sandy.  A  ten-acre  field  of  the 
heavy  character  had  been  plowed  shallow  for 
years ;  in  fact,  our  dear  old  landlord  had  a  hor- 
ror of  deep  plowing,  and,  when  I  quoted  a 
Cornell  professor  as  an  authority  for  thinking 

54 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

that  it  would  benefit  that  particular  field,  he 
boiled  over  with  indignation. 

"  See  here,  Mrs.  Saint  Maur,  you  have  done 
fine  with  hens  and  such  things,  but  you'll  run 
yourself  and  the  farm  to  the  devil  if  you  take 
up  with  all  the  quackery  that  is  put  together 
by  rogues  that  don't  know  a  plow  from  a 
toothpick! " 

No  amount  of  argument  or  explanation 
could  banish  his  skepticism.  For  months,  every 
time  we  met,  I  had  to  listen  to  caustic  remarks 
about  "  book  farming." 

The  ten-acre  field  in  question  was  a  waste 
of  self-sown  grass  and  weeds  over  corn  stubble. 
About  the  10th  of  July  the  crop,  such  as  it 
was,  was  cut  and  cured  for  bedding,  as  we 
could  not  afford  to  burn  it,  which  would  have 
been  much  the  better  way.  Late  in  September 
the  ground  was  plowed  to  a  depth  of  eighteen 
inches,  the  furrows  being  turned  at  an  angle 
to  the  ground,  to  insure  rain  and  frost  sinking 
to  the  full  depth  of  the  newly  opened  subsoil. 
Lime  was  then  scattered  broadcast— the  exact 

55 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

quantity  I  cannot  quote,  but  I  should  think 
about  200  pounds  to  an  acre. 

A  six-acre  field  across  the  brook  was  sandy 
— almost  shaley — in  character,  and  just  as  in- 
fertile; but  the  years  of  shallow  plowing  had 


(a)  Stock.  (6)  Beam,  (c)  Handle,  (d)  Clevis,  (e)  Shackle. 
(/)  Share.  ((/)  Mould  board,  (h)  Landslide,  (k)  Jointer  or  Skim- 
mer. (J)  Truck  or  Wheel,  (p)  Point  or  Nose,  (s)  Shin. 


been  beneficial  instead  of  detrimental,  for  they 
had  established  what  is  technically  called  "  plow 
pan,"  and  means  a  layer  of  firmly  packed  soil 
immediately  below  the  cultivated  surface. 
After  a  good  deal  of  contemplation,  adding 
56 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

and  subtracting  from  information  gathered 
from  several  different  sources,  I  decided  that 
the  best  course  would  be  to  plow  the  custom- 
ary depth,  when  the  soil  was  moderately  wet, 
using  a  bould  mold-board  (the  upper  part  of 
a  plow,  which  regulates  at  what  angle  the  fur- 
row is  turned) ,  and  apply  a  liberal  dressing  of 
lime,  and,  lastly,  the  heavy  roller. 

As  the  necessity  for  different  tillage  in  the 
two  fields  may  not  be  plain  to  the  layman,  I 
will  try  to  explain.  Heavy,  clayey  soil  is  really 
extremely  fine-grained  earth — good  in  itself, 
but  as  wanting  in  substance  as  fine  pastry 
flour.  Plowing  when  wet  is  like  mixing  such 
flour  with  water.  It  works  into  paste  like 
mud,  which,  in  drying,  cracks  apart  into  stony 
clods,  from  which  the  roots  of  plants  can 
gather  little  food. 

The  years  of  shallow  plowing  had,  of  course, 
established  a  plow-pan  in  the  clayey  field,  but 
in  that  case  it  was  an  impregnable  obstacle  to 
the  ascent  of  moisture  during  dry  weather,  or 
the  descent  of  rain.  Consequently  the  few 

57 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

inches  of  cultivated  soil  had,  for  seasons,  been 
alternately  a  mud  puddle  or  slab — either  con- 
dition fatal  to  growing  crops.  By  using  a 
subsoil  plow  the  obstruction  was  removed; 
truly  there  was  the  danger  of  bringing 
soil  long  bereft  of  ventilation,  which  would 
almost  surely  be  sour  and  poisonous,  into  im- 
mediate contact  with  root  growth.  But  turn- 
ing the  furrows  at  an  abrupt  angle,  and  leav- 
ing the  soil  so  exposed  through  the  winter, 
allowed  frost,  snow  and  air  to  assist  the  lime 
in  its  work  of  purification.  Moreover,  the 
soil,  being  corrugated,  dried  much  earlier  in 
the  spring. 

Sandy,  shaley  soil  is,  rightly  speaking,  coarse 
earth,  through  which  moisture  escapes  so  rap- 
idly that  all  sustaining  qualities  are  washed 
away.  A  plow  pan,  under  such  conditions,  acts 
like  the  fine  sand,  or  lower  layer,  in  a  filter. 
The  animalculse  and  ammonia,  with  which  all 
rain  is  charged,  is  retarded  in  passing  through, 
and  calls  into  active  existence  what  plant  food 
the  soil  possesses,  but  the  moisture  has  free  way 

58 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

to  the  lower  depth,  from  where  it  can  as  easily 
ascend  in  times  of  drought. 

Deep  plowing,  such  as  we  used,  on  the  clayey 
soil,  would  have  destroyed  the  pan,  and  been  as 
disastrous  as  not  demolishing  it  in  the  heavy 
soil.  Using  a  bould  mold-board,  turned  the 
furrow  almost  completely  over,  carrying  what 
old  root  growth  there  was  on  the  surface  down 
to  the  pan,  or  subsoil,  where  moisture  aided  its 
disintegration.  The  disk  harrow  and  roller 
pulverized  and  compressed  the  coarse  grains 
of  earth  into  a  less  leachable  condition. 

As  far  as  the  texture  of  the  soil  was  con- 
cerned, the  two  fields  were  diametrically  op- 
posite; but  going  further  into  the  question  of 
appropriate  soil  for  crops  proved  that  both 
were  woefully  deficient  in  humus,  one  of  the 
most  vital  requisites. 

Webster's  definition  of  humus  is  "  animal 
and  vegetable  mold  " ;  which  explains  the  worst 
feature  of  incompetent  farming  more  correctly 
than  dozens  of  learned  dissertations. 

Under  natural  conditions,  plants  and  trees 

59 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

gather  the  innumerable  ingredients  necessary 
for  their  growth  and  sustenance  from  the  soil 
and  atmosphere,  reach  maturity,  gradually  die, 
and,  as  no  change  ever  fails  to  create  new  con- 
ditions, the  amalgamated  forces,  in  disinte- 
grating, produce  chemical  properties  never  yet 
fully  classified,  though  experts  acknowledge 
their  unapproximated  value  in  awakening  dor- 
mant elements  of  the  soil.  In  addition  to  re- 
turning nitrogen,  phosphoric  acid,  potash,  and 
lime,  dying  vegetation  bestows  the  benediction 
of  its  ashes  on  the  earth,  which  become  the 
much-prized  humus  of  agricultural  vocabulary. 
When  man  demolishes  nature's  herbage,  to 
plant  commercial  crops  which  are  reaped  at 
maturity,  he  subverts  nature's  restoration,  and 
the  leavening  influence  of  humus,  except  in 
cases  where  crops  are  principally  kept  for 
home  consumption,  and  honestly  return  to  the 
earth  in  the  form  of  barn-yard  residue.  Fre- 
quently run-down  soil  is  more  in  need  of  humus 
than  of  the  ingredients  of  plant  food.  Clayey 
soil  cements  together  from  the  want  of  its 

60 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

fibrous  interference.  Sandy  soil  cannot  cohere 
without  its  aid. 

Our  stock  was  not  large  enough  to  supply, 
in  one  season,  sufficient  manure  to  repay  the 
years  of  robbery.  Buying  it,  or  adopting  the 
new  system  of  sowing  crops,  to  plow  under  as 
"  green  manure,"  would  have  been  beyond  the 
exchequer;  so,  as  usual,  a  modified  course  had 
to  be  adopted  on  the  first  field,  which  was  the 
heavy  soil.  Turning  in  the  sod,  poor  as  it  was, 
supplied  some  humus. 

Early  in  the  spring,  as  the  ground  was  dry, 
it  was  harrowed,  sowed  with  Golden  Vine  va- 
riety of  Canadian  peas  and  oats,  two  bushels 
of  peas  and  one  of  oats  to  every  acre,  mixed, 
and  planted  with  a  drill;  rows  eighteen  inches 
apart;  seed  covered  two  inches.  Cost  of  seed 
for  the  ten  acres,  $25. 

On  June  20th  we  commenced  cutting  for 
green  fodder,  using  a  scythe,  and  slicing  down 
just  the  quantity  to  feed  each  day.  By  July 
7th  not  quite  an  acre  had  been  cut.  The  silo 
was  not  finished,  and  we  did  not  wish  to  keep 

61 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

the  peas  and  oats  on  the  field  long  enough  to 
cure  for  hay,  so  accepted  an  offer  made  by  a 
man  who  had  recently  bought  the  large  stock 
farm  of  the  neighborhood,  and  who  had  silos, 
but  no  crops.  He  was  to  cut  the  remaining 
nine  acres,  five  inches  above  the  ground,  and 
pay  us  $40. 

This  may  not  seem  a  very  thrifty  proceed- 
ing, but  we  had  other  soiling  crops  ready  to 
use,  and  the  peas  had  answered  the  purpose 
for  which  they  had  been  planted — namely,  to 
gather  nitrogen  from  the  air  and  transplant  it 
to  the  soil.  It  has  been  estimated  that  a  good 
crop  of  Canadian  field  peas  supplies  one  ton 
of  nitrogen  per  acre.  Commercial  nitrogen 
costs  $36  per  ton.  Therefore  we  did  not 
grudge  the  stock  gentleman  his  bargain,  even 
though  he  did  get  80  tons  of  green  forage. 

When  the  field  was  clear  it  was  plowed  to 
turn  in  the  remaining  vines  and  stubble,  har- 
rowed, and  sown,  on  August  10th,  with  Hen- 
derson's Permanent  Grass  Mixture.  The  mix- 
ture cost  $2.50  a  bushel,  and  it  takes  two 

62 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

bushels  and  a  half  of  seed  per  acre.  An 
old  man  assured  my  husband  that  "  Rocke- 
feller couldn't  pour  money  on  the  land  that- 
a-way  and  not  come  up  against  the  poor- 
house." 

Of  course,  grass-seed  could  be  bought  at  the 
village  feed-store  for  80  cents  a  bushel,  but 
what  is  the  use  of  paying  for  weed  seed?  And 
poor  grass-seed  usually  contains  a  goodly  per- 
centage. Moreover,  the  too  fine  texture  of 
the  clayey  soil  is  accentuated  by  constant  till- 
age. Therefore,  having  thoroughly  aroused 
the  soil  to  active  life,  the  next  consideration 
was  to  sow  it  to  a  permanent  crop,  which  this 
mixed  grass  really  is,  lasting,  they  say,  over 
twenty  years.  Our  experience  with  it  has  only 
been  eight  years,  but  it  yields  better  now  than 
it  did  at  first,  so  I  quite  believe  in  the  twenty 
years'  term. 

On  March  2d  clover  at  the  rate  of  ten 
pounds  to  the  acre  was  added;  and  on  June 
15th  of  the  following  year  we  cut  39  tons 
of  splendid  hay;  second  cutting,  on  August 

63 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

19th,  17  tons.  Cost  of  seed,  25  bushels,  $62.50. 
One  hundred  pounds  of  mixed  clover,  $25. 
Market  price  of  hay  that  year  was  $16  a  ton, 
so  the  crop  can  be  counted  as  worth  $896. 

The  average  for  that  field  since  has  been 
$900,  and  the  only  expense  a  top  dressing  of 
fertilizer  which,  when  all  bought,  did  not  ex- 
ceed $150  a  year.  Timothy  and  clover  would 
not  have  given  more  than  two  tons  per  acre; 
would  not  have  lasted  more  than  three  years 
without  deteriorating. 

The  sandy  soil,  which  we  will  call  field  No. 
2,  and  which  we  did  not  take  under  cultiva- 
tion until  a  year  later  than  field  No.  1,  was 
seeded,  immediately  after  being  rolled,  with 
Excelsior  Winter  Rye — one  bushel  and  a  half 
to  the  acre.  There  were  six  acres  in  the  field, 
so  seed  cost  $11.40.  June  5th  the  crop  was 
cut  and  yielded  23  tons,  from  which  115 
bushels  of  grain  were  thrashed.  The  straw 
was  kept  for  bedding,  the  grain  sold,  at  $1.40 
a  bushel,  making  $161.  Oh,  I  had  nearly  for- 
gotten to  say  that  half  an  acre  had  been  cut 

64 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

early  in  the  spring,  to  supply  the  poultry  with 
green  food. 

The  day  after  the  rye  was  off  the  field  it 
was  plowed,  harrowed,  rolled,  and  seeded,  on 
June  10th,  with  soy  beans:  rows  30  inches 
apart,  seeds  about  2l/2  inches  apart  in  the  rows 
which  consumed  about  three  pecks  of  seed  to 
the  acre.  The  field  was  cultivated  three  times 
to  keep  down  the  weeds  between  the  rows 
until  the  beans  got  good  headway.  August 
1st  we  commenced  to  cut  for  cows  and  other 
stock;  used  about  three-quarters  of  an  acre. 
September  8th  the  pods  were  nicely  filled,  and 
the  crop  ready  for  the  silo.  Seed  had  cost  $18. 
We  reaped  50  tons  of  ensilage,  which  ended 
the  first  year's  operating. 

Light  plowing,  harrowing,  and  rolling  were 
again  resorted  to,  and  then,  as  the  seed-bed 
was  in  fairly  good  condition,  winter  rye  was 
sown,  at  the  rate  of  five  pecks  per  acre.  Cost 
for  the  whole  six  acres,  $24.  Early  in  the  fol- 
lowing spring  400  pounds  of  nitrate  of  soda 
was  applied  broadcast;  cost,  $13.  Result,  116 

65 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

bushels  of  grain,  kept  for  poultry,  value  $174; 
straw  sold  for  $89.  Field,  clear  by  June  12th, 
dressed  with  wood  ashes,  and  planted  with  the 
main  crop  of  potatoes.  Used  12  barrels  of 
Carmen  No.  3;  cost,  $54.  September  6th,  har- 
vested 1,260  bushels  of  large,  marketable  po- 
tatoes, and  250  bushels  of  small  ones.  Latter 
kept  for  stock;  former  sold  at  40  cents  a 
bushel;  cash  return,  $504.  End  of  second 
year. 

September  10th,  field  harrowed  and  seeded 
with  one  bushel  of  winter  vetch  and  half  a 
bushel  of  rye.  Cost  for  whole  field,  $39.  All 
cut  for  soiling  during  March  and  April. 
Rough  estimate  of  crop,  15  tons  per  acre,  30 
tons  of  which  was  given  to  a  neighboring 
farmer  in  exchange  for  use  of  double  team. 
April  20th,  field  manure  applied;  harrowed 
and  planted  carrots — four  pounds  of  seed  to 
the  acre.  Cost  for  the  six  acres,  $12.  Result, 
1,600  bushels;  1,000  bushels  sold  at  $200. 
Crop  harvested  July  12th;  field  again  tilled, 
and  sown  with  Japanese  millet,  ten  pounds 

66 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

of  seed  to  the  acre,  in  rows  14  inches  apart; 
cost,  $5.40.  By  August  30th  the  winter  crop 
of  84  tons  had  been  stored  away  in  the  silo. 
End  of  third  year. 

By  September  15th  rye  and  timothy  was 
sown  at  a  cost  of  $15.  March  20th,  clover 
sown,  at  the  rate  of  four  pounds  to  the  acre; 
cost,  $7.20.  June  8th,  rye  was  cut,  yielding 
110  bushels  of  grain  and  13  tons  of  straw. 
Grain  sold  at  $50;  straw,  $36.  July  5th,  hay 
was  cut,  yielding  3%  tons;  value  $56.  End  of 
the  fourth  year. 

Of  course  no  tilling  had  to  be  done  the  fifth 
year,  but  the  field  received  a  dressing  of  nitrate 
of  soda  in  the  spring.  June  20th,  18  tons  of 
hay  was  harvested.  September  2d,  4  tons. 
Value,  $352. 

Sixth  year  the  hay  crop  was  one  ton  more. 
Seventh  year  hay  fell  off  two  tons,  and  the 
field  was  again  put  into  tillage. 

From  the  foregoing  you  will  see  that  field 
No.  2  was  kept  under  constant  tillage  for  five 
years,  the  soil  never  being  without  a  crop,  win- 

67 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

ter  or  summer,  for  seven  years.  Constant  till- 
age worked  the  soil  to  a  fine  texture.  Fre- 
quent turning  in  of  stubble  added  humus. 
The  leguminous  crops  had  furnished  nitrogen. 
Never  being  without  a  growing  crop  had  pre- 
vented any  leaching  of  the  soil,  and  when  the 
soil  again  came  into  tillage,  it  was  splendidly 
fertile  and  mellow. 

Old  grass  lands  were  always  top-dressed  in 
the  fall,  plowed,  and  left  open,  and  rotation 
crops  started  the  following  spring,  with  pota- 
toes or  corn,  cowpeas,  Japanese  millet,  or  rape 
used  as  catch  crops.  The  following  spring 
oats  and  clover ;  the  next  year  wheat ;  then  back 
to  rye,  timothy,  and  clover. 

No  charge  for  labor  has  been  put  against 
any  of  the  crops,  because  it  is  a  task  quite  be- 
yond my  capacity.  The  year  after  we  had  all 
the  land  another  regular  man  was  engaged 
at  $15  per  month.  Each  year  two  extra  men 
have  been  engaged  for  odd  days,  but,  at  the 
most,  not  over  $100  per  year  has  been  spent 
in  extra  work,  so  any  genius  in  arithmetic  can 

68 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

probably  discover  how  much  the  crop  cost  to 
work. 

The  details  of  work  on  fields  1  and  2  have 
been  given  because  they  were  in  the  worst  con- 
dition, and  so  different  in  character  that  we 
have  always  considered  their  restoration  as 
our  most  valuable  experiences  in  tillage,  re- 
building soils,  and  rotation  of  crops.  If  I  had 
to  undertake  the  work  again,  the  fields  would 
be  sown  with  rye  in  the  fall,  and  timothy  and 
clover  in  the  spring,  instead  of  using  the 
timothy  in  the  fall,  and  clover  alone  in  the 
spring,  as  we  did  at  that  time.  This  amend- 
ment was  suggested  by  reading  of  Mr.  T.  B. 
Terry's  success  in  making  the  innovation  on 
his  farm. 

The  exact  process  is  to  sow  either  rye  or 
wheat  in  rows  in  September;  then  in  March, 
at  the  first  signs  of  winter  breaking,  a  still, 
bright  morning  after  a  heavy  frost  is  selected 
for  Mr.  Fred  or  Sidney  to  start  off  with  the 
seeder,  first  filling  it  with  timothy  seed,  and 
then  with  clover.  The  work  must  be  accom- 

69 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

plished  before  the  sun  has  grown  strong 
enough  to  thaw  the  ground.  (It  does  not 
matter  if  there  is  a  little  snow  on  the  ground.) 
Then,  when  the  sun  does  come  out,  the  seed 
sinks  at  once  into  the  softening  surface,  and 
following  frosts  and  thaws  will  cover  the  seed 
just  right. 

When  the  rye  or  wheat  is  harvested  in  June, 
however,  the  timothy  and  clover  have  an  equal 
growth,  and  the  stubble  of  the  removed  crop  is 
quickly  covered  by  them.  If  the  land  is  good, 
a  fair  cutting  of  hay  can  be  made  in  July. 
At  the  end  of  August,  or  1st  of  September, 
according  to  the  season,  the  field  is  again  cut, 
but  the  herbage  is  left,  as  it  falls,  for  mulch. 
Should  the  season  be  wet,  a  field  cut  in  Au- 
gust will  bear  another  clipping  in  September, 
but  must  not  be  done  after  the  15th,  for  the 
plants  must  have  time  to  make  some  growth 
before  frost. 

This  system  of  mulching  the  clover-field 
with  its  own  clippings  is  also  borrowed  from 

Mr.  Terry.    The  mulch  protects  the  crop  from 

70 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

frost,  and  adds  humus  to  the  soil.  Moreover, 
the  cropping  of  the  growing  plants  strength- 
ens and  increases  root  growth,  equalizing  the 
surface  for  a  uniform  start  the  following 
spring. 

Our  choice  of  crops  was,  of  course,  con- 
trolled by  the  needs  of  the  stock  we  keep. 
Poultry  and  game  require  corn,  wheat,  oats, 
clover,  beets  and  onions;  cows,  corn,  soy  beans, 
millet,  wheat  bran,  hay,  carrots;  sheep,  about 
the  same,  with  rape  added;  horses,  oats,  corn, 
carrots,  hay;  and  for  all,  straw  is  used  as  bed- 
ding. 

The  rotation  is  also  arranged,  as  nearly  as 
possible,  to  assign  to  the  different  soils  the 
most  congenial  crops;  yet  deep  and  shallow 
rooting  plants  should  be  alternated  on  every 
soil,  no  matter  what  the  texture.  The  fine, 
hair-like  rootlets  that  wander  far  into  the 
earth,  draw  up  a  wealth  of  plant  food  and 
vitality,  untouched  by  the  shallow  roots;  be- 
sides, top  roots  add  considerably  to  the  supply 
of  humus. 

71 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

The  Bureau  of  Agriculture  has  made  some 
extensive  tests  along  these  lines,  using  wire 
cases,  sunk  into  the  ground,  which  have  been 
taken  up  at  different  stages  of  growth,  the 
earth  being  gradually  washed  out,  and  the 
roots  left  intact  for  measurement. 

The  following  summaries  I  clipped  from  dif- 
ferent Government  publications  in  1888,  1892, 
and  1896: 

CORN  ROOT  SYSTEM. — At  the  Wisconsin 
Station,  samples  of  corn  taken  42  days  after 
planting,  when  the  tops  were  about  18  inches 
high,  showed  that  the  roots  of  two  hills  met 
and  passed  each  other  in  the  center  of  rows 
3^/2  feet  apart,  and  had  penetrated  the  soil  to 
a  depth  of  about  18  inches.  The  surface  roots 
sloped  gently  downward  toward  the  center  of 
the  row,  where  they  were  about  8  inches  below 
the  surface.  At  the  time  of  the  last  cultiva- 
tion, when  the  corn  was  nearly  3  feet  high,  the 
roots  were  found  to  occupy  the  entire  soil, 
down  to  a  depth  of  about  2  feet,  and  the  sur- 
face laterals  descended  in  a  gentle  curve  to- 

72 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

ward  the  center  of  the  row,  and  passed  one 
another  at  a  depth  of  only  6  inches.  A  third 
sample  taken  when  the  corn  was  coming  into 
full  tassel  showed  that  the  roots  had  fully  oc- 
cupied the  upper  3  feet  of  soil  in  the  entire 
field,  and  that  the  surface  laterals  at  this  time 
had  risen  still  higher,  a  few  of  them  being 
scarcely  5  inches  beneath  the  surface.  At  ma- 
turity the  roots  extended  fully  4  feet  into 
the  soil,  and  the  upper  laterals  were  within  4 
inches  of  the  top  of  the  ground. 

In  studying  the  total  root  distribution  of 
corn  from  9  to  27  days  old,  it  was  found  that 
at  the  end  of  9  days  some  of  the  roots  had  ex- 
tended laterally  to  a  distance  of  16  inches,  and 
that  some  had  reached  a  depth  of  8  inches. 
The  tips  of  the  longest  roots  were  6  inches  be- 
low the  surface,  and  no  roots  were  nearer  the 
surface  than  3  inches,  at  6  inches  from  the  hill. 
Eighteen  days  after  planting,  the  tips  of  the 
longest  roots  had  spread  laterally  to  a  distance 
of  18  inches,  and  were  5  or  more  inches  below 
the  surface,  while  the  longest  roots  extending 

73 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

downward  had  scarcely  reached  12  inches,  and 
6  inches  from  the  hill  no  roots  were  nearer  the 
surface  than  2  inches.  Twenty-seven  days 
after  planting,  the  greatest  depth  reached  by 
the  roots  was  18  inches,  and  the  greatest  lateral 
extension  24  inches  from  the  hill,  witH  the  tips 
4  inches  below  the  surface.  The  depth  of  the 
roots  at  6  inches  from  the  hill  was  the  same  as 
9  days  before. 

In  similar  work  along  this  line  the  North 
Dakota  Station  found  that  30  days  from 
planting,  the  main  roots  appeared  to  have  de- 
veloped laterally  and  but  few  had  penetrated 
to  a  depth  of  12  inches,  the  bulk  of  the  roots 
lying  within  8  inches  of  the  surface  of  the 
soil.  An  examination  55  days  from  planting, 
when  the  plants  were  54  inches  high,  showed 
that  the  primary  roots  had  penetrated  to  a 
depth  of  2%  feet,  and  that  many  of  the  hori- 
zontal roots  now  extended  from  hill  to  hill. 
The  lateral  roots  frequently  sent  up  feeders 
within  2  inches  of  the  surface.  A  third  sample 
was  taken  90  days  from  planting,  and  soon 

74 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

after  the  corn  had  been  killed  by  frost.  The 
roots  at  this  time  seemed  to  be  still  alive  and 
growing.  At  this  stage  the  roots  had  pene- 
trated the  ground  to  a  depth  of  3Mj  feet,  and 
they  fully  occupied  the  soil  of  the  entire  field. 

The  Kansas  Station  found  that  the  roots 
of  corn  are  more  extensive  than  those  of  Kaffir 
corn  and  sorghum.  Kaffir  corn  showed  a  thick 
growth  of  surface  roots,  while  the  root  system 
of  sorghum  had  a  greater  resemblance  to  that 
of  corn.  The  roots  of  listed  corn  had  devel- 
oped to  a  uniform  depth,  and  the  surface  roots 
were  uniformly  deeper  in  the  soil  than  in  level- 
planted  corn.  It  was  also  shown  in  these  ex- 
periments that  the  roots  of  corn  and  other  cul- 
tivated crops  spread  out  farther,  but  did  not 
grow  so  deep  into  the  soil  as  the  roots  of  wheat, 
oats,  and  barley. 

All  these  experiments  indicate  that,  by  cul- 
tivating deeply,  the  large,  lateral  roots  of  corn 
lying  at  a  depth  of  4  inches  midway  between 
the  rows  are  likely  to  be  broken.  It  is  believed 
that  as  roots  of  listed  corn  lie  deeper,  corn 

75 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

planted  by  this  method  may  be  cultivated  close 
to  the  hill  and  3  to  4  inches  deep  at  the  last 
cultivation  without  injury  to  the  roots,  while 
in  level-planted  corn  the  roots  rising  nearly  to 
the  surface  several  inches  from  the  hill  are  de- 
stroyed by  close  cultivation.  Deep  cultivation 
for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  thick  soil  mulch 
is  considered  necessary,  however,  for  the  last 
cultivation  of  corn  in  hot  and  dry  climates. 

SMALL  GRAINS. — Wheat  roots  examined 
110  days  after  sowing  the  seed  were  found  to 
extend  directly  downward,  sending  out  nu- 
merous small  feeders  which  practically  occu- 
pied the  soil  to  a  depth  of  about  4  feet.  In 
later  experiments  the  roots  of  durum  (a  va- 
riety of  wheat  adapted  to  somewhat  alkaline 
soils  and  hot,  dry  climate)  and  bread- wheat 
reached  a  depth  of  more  than  4  feet,  and 
again  showed  that  the  system  of  rooting  is 
vertical  instead  of  lateral,  as  in  corn.  The 
root  development  was  greater  in  the  durum 
than  in  the  bread- wheat  samples.  It  was  also 
observed  that  the  root  development  in  cereals 

76 


HARVEST  TIME 


THE    EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

varied  considerably  during  different  years. 
The  root  system  of  oats  was  found  to  be 
similar  to  that  of  wheat,  but  the  roots  were 
longer  and  more  numerous,  and  extended 
fully  as  deep  into  the  ground.  The  roots  of 
emmer  (another  variety  of  wheat  often  mis- 
called spelt  wheat  in  this  country,  where  it  is 
used  for  stock  food  only,  thrives  best  in  hot 
climates)  resembled  those  of  wheat  and  ex- 
tended to  about  the  same  depth.  A  sample 
of  winter  rye,  taken  July  7th,  showed  that 
the  roots  had  reached  a  depth  of  only  3  feet, 
and  their  development  was  smaller  than  in 
other  samples  of  cereals  generally.  It  is 
believed  that  early  in  the  season  the  soil  in 
the  latitude  of  the  station  is  too  cold  below  a 
depth  of  3  feet  to  admit  of  root  growth.  At 
the  Kansas  Station  oats  and  barley  produced 
a  large  fibrous  growth  of  roots  in  the  surface 
soil,  but  this  was  not  equal  to  the  growth  of 
fibrous  roots  in  the  upper  soil  made  by  some 
perennial  grasses. 

ROOT    SYSTEM    OF    GRASSES. — The    North 
77 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

Dakota  Station  also  examined  the  roots  of  one- 
and  two-year-old  plants  of  Bromus  inermis, 
and  found  that  at  one  year  old  the  roots  had 
attained  a  depth  of  over  4  feet  and  formed  a 
good  sod,  while  the  roots  of  the  two-year-old 
grass  had  reached  a  depth  of  at  least  5l/2  feet. 
In  comparing  the  root  systems  of  native 
prairie  grasses,  timothy  roots,  and  the  roots 
of  Bromus  inermis,  it  was  found  that  the 
roots  of  the  native  prairie  grasses  did  not 
make  as  heavy  a  sod  as  the  cultivated  ones,  and 
that  the  roots  examined  reached  less  than  3 
feet  in  depth.  In  later  work  a  brome  grass 
specimen  taken  from  a  three-year-old  sod 
showed  the  densest  rooting  of  all  samples  of 
cereal  and  forage  crops.  Native  slender 
wheat  grass,  also  from  a  three-year-old  sod, 
did  not  have  the  strong  root  growth  of  the 
brome  grass,  although  its  root  system  was 
heavier  than  that  of  any  other  crop  studied. 
The  Kansas  Station  also  found  that  the  largest 
growth  of  fibrous  roots  in  the  surface  soil  was 
made  by  the  perennial  grasses  as  compared 

78 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

with  cereal  and  other  crops,  and  that  certain 
species  also  extended  their  roots  deeper  into 
the  soil  than  any  other  class  of  crops  except 
perennial  leguminous  plants. 

ROOT  SYSTEMS  or  LEGUMES. — At  the  Kan- 
sas Station  alfalfa  was  the  deepest-rooted  crop 
studied.  The  plant  developed  only  a  small 
growth  of  fibrous  roots  near  the  surface,  the 
principal  root  development  being  deeper  in 
the  soil.  Cowpeas  and  soy  beans  appeared  to 
be  light-rooting  crops.  At  the  North  Dakota 
Station  the  roots  of  red  clover  during  two 
years  of  development  grew  down  over  4  feet, 
and  quite  fully  occupied  the  upper  3  feet  of 
soil.  Crimson  clover  roots  in  a  single  season 
attained  a  depth  of  3  feet  by  August  22d. 

POTATO  ROOT  SYSTEM. — Samples  of  an 
early  and  late  variety  of  potatoes  showed  that 
the  main  portion  of  the  root  growth  of  this 
plant  is  shallow.  Forty-three  days  after 
planting,  the  principal  part  of  the  root  devel- 
opment was  found  to  lie  within  8  inches-  of 
the  surface  of  the  ground.  The  lateral  roots 

79 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

had  extended  from  hill  to  hill  and  interlaced. 
Some  of  the  principal  lateral  roots  were  found 
to  be  only  2%  inches  from  the  surface  at  6 
inches  from  the  hill.  This  root  development 
indicates  the  necessity  of  shallow  cultivation 
of  the  crop,  and  this  was  confirmed  in  experi- 
ments with  deep  and  shallow  cultivation,  the 
results  showing  a  decided  advantage  for  the 
shallow  cultivation  of  potatoes  unbilled.  It 
was  also  shown  that  late  potatoes  root  more 
freely  and  more  deeply  than  early  ones,  and  as 
a  result  will  not  stand  as  close  planting  as  the 
early  varieties.  When  the  hills  are  about  3 
feet  apart  each  way,  the  soil  is  very  fully  oc- 
cupied by  the  roots  to  a  depth  of  3  feet. 

SUGAR-BEET  ROOT  SYSTEM. — Sugar-beet 
plants  examined  by  the  North  Dakota  Station 
at  maturity,  or  133  days  after  planting  the 
seed,  presented  a  deep  root  extending  almost 
perpendicularly  downward  into  the  ground, 
the  lower  part  being  quite  small  and  thread- 
like and  reaching  to  a  depth  of  more  than  3 
feet,  and  the  lateral  roots  starting  4  or  5  inches 

80 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

from  the  surface  with  but  little  root  develop-* 
ment  in  the  upper  6  inches  of  the  soil.  The 
greatest  amount  of  branching  and  fibrous 
growth  of  beet  roots  took  place  in  the  space 
between  8  and  14  inches  in  depth.  The  ef- 
fect of  subsoiling  on  the  root  growth  and  de- 
velopment of  sugar-beets,  as  studied  by  this 
station,  resulted  in  a  considerably  better  de- 
velopment of  feeding  roots  and  a  more  sym- 
metrical development  of  the  main  root  on  the 
subsoiled  plats.  The  Kansas  Station  also 
found  that  the  root  system  of  the  sugar-beet 
lies  comparatively  deep,  and  that  the  crop 
therefore  admits  of  deep  cultivation. 

This  study  of  the  roots  of  plants  gives  us 
a  clearer  idea  of  the  proper  methods  of  pre- 
paring and  cultivating  the  soil  for  the  differ- 
ent field  crops.  In  general,  root  systems  of 
crops  like  corn,  potatoes,  beets,  beans,  etc., 
reach  from  row  to  row  and  near  the  surface, 
and  hence  should  be  given  shallow  cultivation, 
though  beets  may  be  cultivated  deeper  than 
the  other  crops  mentioned. 

81 


CHAPTER   FOUR 

BUILDING  AND   OPERATING  A   SILO 

IN  the  days  when  poultry  was  the  main  con- 
sideration, before  we  had  even  one  cow,  dan- 
delions, plantains,  and  such  green  things  were 
gathered  and  packed  tightly  in  barrels,  to 
keep  them  for  the  ducks  in  winter.  Later, 
two  well-tiles  were  cemented  together,  and 
used  for  the  same  purpose.  Then  the  rail- 
road company  moved  their  water  station  from 
the  cut  in  the  wood  to  the  depot.  We  bought 
the  old  water  tank,  moved  it  up  near  the  feed- 
house,  and  were  quite  proud  of  our  poultry 
"  silo  "  for  a  year  or  so,  until  we  became  con- 
vinced that  attempting  to  maintain  the  in- 
creased herd  of  cattle  and  sheep  without  silage 
was  penny-wise  and  pound-foolish,  especially 
as  prosperity  fully  warranted  the  outlay. 

82 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

The  silos  on  the  stock  farm  were  immense, 
elaborate  affairs  of  brick,  and  plastered  in- 
teriors, which  were  always  needing  repairs,  so 
that  style  was  tabooed.  We  decided  that  the 
foundations  should  be  concrete,  for,  since  the 
i  early  days  when  I  essayed  the  craft  of  ma- 
sonry, and  succeeded  in  making  our  first  cow's 
stable  a  tidy,  wholesome  place,  concrete  has 
been  used  whenever  possible  about  the  farm, 
and  our  equipment  of  tools  and  knowledge 
had  grown  sufficiently  to  make  Mr.  Fred  and 
Sidney  quite  capable  of  attending  to  that 
part  of  the  work  unaided;  but  the  cylinder 
storehouse  itself  gave  us  much  anxious 
thought,  until  we  decided  to  engage  a  couple 
of  practical  carpenters,  as  accuracy  in  the 
construction  of  a  silo  is  most  imperative,  and 
adopted  for  a  model  the  one  in  use  at  the 
Cornell  Experiment  Station. 

A  circular  trench,  two  feet  wide,  with  an 
outer  diameter  of  twenty-two  feet,  was  dug 
about  three  feet  deep,  in  which  to  start  the 
concrete  wall.  When  it  was  six  inches  above 

83 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

the  ground,  the  surface  soil  inside  the  circle, 
and  for  two  feet  all  round  the  outside,  was  re- 
moved to  a  depth  of  ten  inches,  to  permit  a 
layer  of  coarse  stone  to  be  laid  as  sub-founda- 
tion for  the  mixture  of  Portland  cement  and 
gravel,  a  two-inch  layer  of  which  formed  the 
foundation  for  the  finishing  application  of 
Portland  cement  and  fine  gravel,  that  gives 
the  smooth,  stone-like  surface  to  concrete 
work. 

The  permanent  posts  for  the  cylinder  were 
6X6  material  (a  a  a  a,  Fig.  1),  30  feet  long, 
and  were  erected  at  equal  distances,,  held  se- 
curely in  place  by  a  scaffolding,  which  was 
erected  as  shown  in  the  sketch  of  ground  plan, 
which  I  am  allowed  to  reproduce  by  courtesy 
of  the  Agricultural  Department.  The  posts 
(b  b  b  b,  Fig.  1)  are  of  2  X  4  scantling.  The 
boards  nailed  from  the  corner  posts,  and  to 
the  6  X  6  material,  form  a  rigid  framework, 
across  which  the  planks  (c  c  c  c,  Fig.  1)  for 
the  scaffold  platform  are  laid. 

Before  going  further,  the  staves  were 
84 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

stored  in  the  circle,  in  accordance  with  a  hint 
given  in  the  directions,  and  which  the  men 
fully  appreciated  after  they  had  experienced 


-•«.;.,-   f   J 


I..JL 


FIG.  1.  GROUND  PLAN  OP  STONE.  SILO  ABOVE  FOUNDATION. 

the  difficulty  of  getting  a  few  extra  ones  in 
place  when  the  silo  was  nearly  completed. 
The  staves  we  used  were  2X6,  tongued  and 

85 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

grooved,  slightly  beveled,  20  feet  long,  and 
surfaced  on  one  side,  to  insure  the  smooth  in- 
terior necessary  to  permit  silage  to  settle.  In 
setting  up,  the  ends  which  met  at  the  splice 
were  squared  and  toe-nailed  securely  together. 
First  a  long  stave  and  then  a  short  one  was 
at  the  bottom,  making  the  breaks  come  alter- 
nately 20  and  10  feet  above  the  foundation. 

The  hoops  were  made  of  round  steel  rods, 
which  were  in  four  sections,  so  that  the  ends 
could  be  passed  through  the  permanent  6X6 
posts,  and  securely  fastened  with  nuts.  The 
first  hoop  was  placed  6  inches  above  the  foun- 
dation, the  second  1  foot  higher,  the  third  2l/2 
feet  higher,  which  distance  was  maintained  up 
to  the  top.  The  hoops,  or  rods,  were  only 
tightened  enough  to  keep  the  staves  closely 
together  at  first;  made  a  little  snugger  when 
the  building  was  completed,  but  not  taut  until 
the  silo  was  filled. 

Doors  were  made  in  every  other  section  be- 
tween the  hoops,  2  feet  wide  and  21/2  feet  high. 
When  the  staves  were  being  set  in  place,  a 

86 


slight  cut  was  made  to  indicate  where  the  top 
and  bottom  of  the  door  would  come,  so  that, 
after  the  silo  was  built,  a  saw  could  be  in- 
serted, and  the  door  portion  sawed  out  on  a 
bevel,  to  make  the  opening  larger  on  the  in- 
side of  the  silo;  so,  when  closed,  the  pressure 
of  the  silage  effectively  keeps  it  in  place. 

Previous  to  cutting  out  the  doors,  cleats, 
2X3  inches,  2  feet  long,  cut  in  circular  form, 
to  conform  to  the  shape  of  the  silo,  must  be 
bolted  across  top  and  bottom  of  the  portions 
to  be  moved. 

The  location  chosen  for  our  silo  was  the 
space  between  the  main  barn  and  the  cow 
barn,  which  was  24  feet;  so,  instead  of  put- 
ting an  individual  roof  to  the  silo,  we  built  a 
roof  over  the  entire  space,  so  forming  a  cov- 
ered shed,  which  answered  the  double  purpose 
of  protecting  the  silo  and  the  men.  Silage 
has  to  be  taken  out  twice  a  day  during  the 
worst  half  of  the  year,  and  it  is  not  conducive 
to  men's  health  or  temper  to  be  exposed  to 
driving  storms  while  doing  such  work.  The 

87 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

roof  was  peaked  above  the  center  of  the  silo, 
the  front  slope  being  only  15  feet,  and  hav- 
ing a  trap-door  for  use  at  filling  time.  The 


FIG.  2.    DOCK  AFTER  BEING  SAWED  OTTT. 

back  slope  extended  to  the  rear  of  the  barn. 
Double  doors,  which  could  be  thrown  quite 
back  in  fair  weather,  or  closed  for  storms, 
completed  the  shed. 

88 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

A  door  was  cut  into  each  barn  wide  enough 
to  admit  a  truck  2  feet  wide  and  4  feet  long, 
which  was  made  of  wood,  furnished  with  four 
small  wheels,  and  arranged  on  a  pulley  and 
chain,  to  swing  up  to  the  silo  doors,  where  it 
would  be  filled,  lowered,  unhooked,  and  rolled 
into  either  barn,  so  lightening  the  work. 

When  finished,  the  entire  cost  of  silo  and 
roof  was  $154,  a  sum  which  can  be  reduced 
considerably  if  only  an  individual  roof  is  used, 
which  can  be  made  in  the  conical  form  with 
little  difficulty,  if  the  silo  is  not  more  than  15 
feet  in  diameter;  for  no  rafters  need  be  used, 
and  only  a  single  circle,  like  the  one  in  the 
center  of  the  sketch,  which  is  made  of  2-inch 
stuff  cut  in  sections,  in  the  form  of  a  circle, 
and  two  layers  spiked  together,  breaking 
joints. 

The  roof  boards  are  put  on  by  nailing  them 
to  the  inner  circle  and  to  the  plate,  as  shown 
in  the  drawing,  the  boards  having  been  sawed 
diagonally,  as  represented  at  H,  Fig.  4,  mak- 
ing the  wide  and  narrow  ends  the  same  rela- 

89 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

tive  widths  as  the  circumferences  of  the  outer 
edge  of  the  roof  and  of  the  inner  circle. 
If  the  silo  has  an  inside  diameter  exceeding 


FIG.  3.    CONICAL  ROOF. 


15  feet,  it  will  be  necessary  to  use  two  or  three 
hoops,  according  to  diameter.  When  the 
diameter  is  greater  than  25  feet,  it  will  usu- 

90 


H 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

ally  be  best  to  use  rafters  and  headers  cut  in 
for  circles  4  feet  apart  to  nail  the  roof  boards 
to,  which  are  cut  as  represented  at 
H,  Fig.  4. 

The  conical  roof  may  be  covered 
with  ordinary  shingles,  splitting  those 
wider  than  8  inches.  By  laying  the 
butts  of  the  shingles  %  to  %  of  an 
inch  apart,  it  is  not  necessary  to  taper 
any  of  the  shingles,  except  a  few 
courses  near  the  peak  of  the  roof. 

In  laying  the  shingles  to  a  true 
circle,  and  with  the  right  exposure  to 
the  weather,  a  good  method  is  to  use 
a  strip  of  wood  as  a  radius  which 
works  on  a  center  set  at  the  peak  of 
the  roof,  and  provided  with  a  nail  or 
pencil  to  make  a  mark  on  the  shingle 
where  the  butts  of  the  next  course 
are   to   come.    The   radius   may   be      FIG.  4. 
bored  with  a  series  of  holes  the  right  distance 
apart  to  slip  over  the  center  pivot,  or  the  nail 

may  be  drawn  and  reset  as  desired.    Some  car- 

91 


>r 

"1 

e  { 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

penters  file  a  notch  in  the  shingling  hatchet, 
and  use  this  to  bring  the  shingle  to  place. 

Though  the  first  large  silo  has  proved  per- 
fectly satisfactory  in  the  sheltered  position  it 
occupies  on  our  farm,  I  would  not  advise 
building  one  of  the  same  size  and  structure  in 
an  exposed  position.  The  one  we  put  up  two 
years  later,  especially  for  young  and  market 
stock,  near  the  outlying  barn,  was  a  much 
heavier  edifice,  on  what  is  called  the  Wis- 
consin model — foundation  almost  the  same 
in  every  detail  as  that  used  for  the  first  build- 
ing, but  the  cylinder  was  double,  interlined 
with  building  paper,  and  cost  almost  double. 
However,  circumstances  will,  of  course,  guide 
individual  selection,  but  some  general  points 
must  be  observed,  such  as  appropriate  loca- 
tion, convenience  to  the  barn,  well-drained 
foundation.  It  is  safer,  under  all  conditions, 
to  have  brick  or  concrete,  as  clay  soils  will 
rarely  be  able  to  absorb  the  moisture,  and 
sandy  soil  permits  the  gases  of  the  earth  to 
ascend  into  the  silo. 

92 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

When  the  more  elaborate  building,  like  the 
Wisconsin,  or  brick-lined  silo,  is  selected,  it  is 
imperative  to  provide  ample  ventilation  for 
the  spaces  between  the  studs,  as  well  as  for 
the  roof  and  the  inside  of  the  silo.  Between 
each  pair  of  studs,  where  needed,  a  l^-inch 
auger  hole,  to  admit  air,  is  bored  through  the 
siding  and  sheeting,  and  covered  with  a  piece 
of  wire  netting,  to  keep  out  mice  and  rats.  At 
the  top  of  the  silo  on  the  inside,  the  lining  is 
only  covered  to  within  two  inches  of  the  plate, 
and  this  space  is  covered  with  wire  netting, 
to  prevent  silage  from  being  thrown  out  when 
filling.  This  arrangement  permits  dry  air 
from  outside  to  enter  at  the  bottom  between 
each  pair  of  studs,  and  to  pass  up  and  into  the 
silo,  thus  keeping  the  lining  and  studding  dry, 
and  at  the  same  time  drying  the  under  side  of 
the  roof  and  the  inside  of  the  lining  as  fast  as 
exposed.  In  those  cases  where  the  sill  is  made 
of  2  X  4's,  cut  in  2-foot  lengths,  there  will  be 
space  enough  left  between  the  curved  edge  of 
the  siding  and  sheeting  and  the  sill  for  air  to 

93 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

enter,  so  that  no  holes  need  be  bored,  as  de- 
scribed above.  The  openings  at  the  plate 
should  always  be  provided,  and  the  silo  should 
have  some  sort  of  ventilator  in  the  roof.  This 
ventilator  may  take  the  form  of  a  cupola,  to 
serve  for  an  ornament  as  well,  or  it  may  be  a 
simple,  galvanized  iron  pipe,  12  to  24  inches 
in  diameter,  rising  a  foot  or  two  through  the 
peak  of  the  roof. 

The  size  of  the  silo  will  have  to  be  deter- 
mined by  the  number  of  cattle  to  be  fed.  Two 
inches  of  the  entire  exposed  surface  must  be 
used  each  day,  after  the  silo  is  once  opened,  or 
there  will  be  loss  from  spoiling.  The  accepted 
estimate  for  feed  is  40  pounds  per  day  for 
each  cow.  Calculating  that  silage  will  be  re- 
quired for  200  days  in  the  year,  the  amount 
to  be  stored  for  each  member  of  the  family 
will  be  four  tons,  so  the  size  of  the  silo  should 
be  figured  out  on  these  lines.  Twelve  cows 
will  consume  48  tons  of  silage;  the  inside  di- 
ameter of  the  silo  for  such  a  herd  should  be 
12  feet,  24  feet  high,  as  then  the  necessary 

94 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 


240  pounds  of  silage  per  day  will  remove  a 
2-inch  layer. 

The  number  of  staves  required  for  differ- 
ent sized  silos  can  be  ascertained  from  the  fol- 
lowing table: 

CIRCUMFERENCES  AND  AREAS  OF  CIRCLES 


Diamet'r. 
Feet. 

Circum- 
ference. 
Feet. 

Area. 
Square 
Feet. 

Diamet'r. 
Feet. 

Circum- 
ference. 
Feet. 

Area. 
Square 
Feet. 

8 

25.1 

50.3 

21 

66.0 

346.4 

9 

28.3 

63.6 

22 

69.1 

380.1 

10 

31.4 

78.5 

23 

72.3 

415.5 

11 

34.6 

95.0 

24 

65.4 

452.4 

12 

37.7 

113.1 

25 

78.5 

490.9 

13 

40.8 

132.7 

26 

81.7 

530.9 

14 

44.0 

153.9 

27 

84.8 

572.6 

15 

47.1 

179.7 

29 

88.0 

615.8 

16 

50.3 

201.1 

30 

91.1 

660.5 

17 

53.4 

227.0 

31 

94.2 

706.9 

18 

56.5 

254.5 

32 

97.4 

754.8 

19 

59.7 

283.5 

.. 

100.5 

804.2 

20 

62.8 

314.2 

To  find  the  circumference  of  a  circle,  mul- 
tiply the  diameter  by  3.1416. 

95 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

To  find  the  area  of  a  circle,  multiply  the 
square  of  the  diameter  by  0.7854. 

To  find  the  cubical  contents  of  a  cylinder, 
multiply  the  area  of  the  base  (floor)  by  the 
height. 

Example. — A  silo  16  feet  in  diameter  and 
26  feet  high  is  wanted;  how  many  staves, 
2X6  feet,  will  be  needed,  and  what  will  be 
the  feeding  area  in  the  silo  and  its  capacity? 

The  circumference  of  a  circle  16  feet  in 
diameter  is  50.3  feet;  there  will  therefore  be 
required  50.3  -f-  %  =  101  staves,  2X6  inches, 
26  feet  high,  or  if  staves  of  this  height  can- 
not be  obtained,  135  staves  20  feet  long,  or 
50  each  of  12  and  14  feet  long  staves.  The 
feeding  area  will  be  16  X  16  X  0.7854  =  201.1 
square  feet,  and  the  cubical  content  of  the 
silo,  201.1  X  26  =  5,228.6  cubic  feet.  Esti- 
mating the  weight  of  a  cubic  foot  of  corn 
silage  at  40  pounds,  5,228.6  cubic  feet  of 
silage  would  weigh  209,164  pounds,  or  about 
100  tons,  which  is  the  approximate  capacity 
of  a  round  silo  of  the  dimensions  given. 

96 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

ESTIMATE  OF  MATERIALS  FOR  WISCONSIN  IM- 
PROVED SILOS 

Size — 30  feet  deep,  14  feet  diameter.  Ca- 
pacity, 60  tons. 

Brick — 3,375  for  foundation,  1  foot  thick, 
3  feet  deep. 

Studs — 50  pieces  2  X  4,  16  feet  long. 

Studs — 50  pieces  2  X  4,  14  feet  long. 

Flooring  for  doors — 32  feet,  4  matched. 

Sheeting — 3,000  feet,  ^2  inch,  resawed  from 
2X6  16-foot  plank  sawed  three  times,  dressed 
one  side  to  uniform  thickness  for  inside  lining 
of  two  layers. 

Lining — 1,500  feet  of  same  for  outside. 

Tar  building  paper — 200  yards,  water  and 
acid-proof. 

Nails — 200  Ibs.  8-penny;  200  Ibs.  10-penny. 

Spikes — 20  Ibs. 

Rafters— 22,  2  X  4,  10  feet  long,  for  usual 
ridge  roof. 

Sheeting  for  roof — 250  feet  of  16-foot 
boards. 

97 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

Shingles— 3,000. 

Shingle  nails — 12  Ibs. 

Dormer  window  for  filling  through.  Paint 
— 7  gallons  providing  two  coats. 

Cement — 2  barrels,  for  cementing  bottom. 

The  silo  well  located  and  built,  the  question 
of  filling  and  managing  is  to  be  considered. 
The  most  appropriate  crops  are  corn,  millet, 
Canada  or  cowpeas,  and  clover.  Corn  is  pre- 
eminently the  fodder  crop  of  America,  but 
within  the  last  few  years  dairymen  have 
learned  the  value  of  soy  beans,  millet,  and 
other  crops,  both  as  milk  producers,  fatteners, 
and  renovators  of  the  soil,  and  are  gradually 
giving  them  their  right  place  in  crop  rotation 
and  rations. 

As  corn  is  the  oldest  favorite,  it  shall  have 
precedence.  For  the  silo  it  should  be  planted 
in  the  usual  way  as  soon  as  danger  of  frost 
is  over,  which  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York  is 
about  the  10th  of  May;  or,  as  a  universal 
guide,  say  when  apple  trees  are  in  full  bloom. 
Drop  four  or  five  kernels  every  21/2  feet,  in 

98 


THE    EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

rows  3  feet  apart.  Adopt  shallow  cultivation 
between  the  rows,  to  keep  down  weeds,  until 
growth  of  foliage  makes  it  impracticable. 

Harvesting  corn  for  the  silo  was  one  of  the 
worst  mistakes  of  my  farm  management.  I 
had  been  assured  that  really  green  corn  was 
the  most  succulent,  and  therefore  the  most  ap- 
propriate. Accordingly,  the  first  years,  the 
silage  was  lacking  in  feed  value,  for  it  has 
been  proven  that  corn  does  not  possess  all  its 
feed  values  until  immediately  prior  to  ripen- 
ing. "  Modern  Silo  Methods  "  gives  Profes- 
sor Ladd's  analysis  of  corn  at  five  different 
stages  of  growth,  from  full  tasseling  to  ma- 
turity (see  table  on  p.  100). 

Which  conclusively  shows  that  ripe  corn 
contains  the  greatest  supply  of  food  value; 
but  careful  trial  of  digestive  qualities  proved 
that  the  period  immediately  before  ripening, 
when  the  kernels  are  just  becoming  firm  and 
slightly  glossy  in  appearance,  is  the  most  eco- 
nomic time  to  cut  for  the  silo,  especially  as 
immature  corn  causes  it  to  deteriorate  in  the 

99 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 


Yield  per  Acre. 

Tass'l'd. 
July  30. 
Pounds. 

Silked. 
Aug.  9. 
Pounds. 

Milk. 
Aug.  91. 
Pounds. 

Glazed. 
Sept.  7. 
Pounds. 

Ripe. 
Sept.  23. 
Pounds. 

Gross  Weight  •  •  • 

18,045 

25,745 

32,600 

32,295 

28,460 

Water  in  the  Crop 
Dry  Matter  

16,426 
1,619 
138.9 
239.8 

22,666 
3,078 
201.3 
436.8 

27,957 
4,643 
232.2 
478.7 

25,093 
7,202 
302.5 
643.9 

20,542 
7,918 
364.2 
677.8 

Ash    

Crude  Protein  •  . 

Crude  Fiber  .... 

514.2 

872.9 

1,262.9 

2,755.9 

1,734.0 

Nitrogen-free  Ex- 

) 

tract       (starch, 

V  653.9 

1,399.3 

2,441.3 

3,239.8 

4,827.6 

sugar,  etc.) 
Crude  Fat 

) 

72.2 

167.8 

228.9 

260.0 

314.3 

silo  much  more  quickly  than  mature  corn,  at 
which  time  most  of  the  sugar  is  changed  to 
starch.  Nor  must  cutting  be  delayed  until 
the  corn  commences  to  dry,  for  at  that  stage 
it  will  mould  when  packed  in  the  silo. 

Soy  beans  and  Canada  field  peas  must  be 
harvested  for  the  silo  when  the  pods  are  well 
formed  and  the  seeds  three-quarters  grown. 
Probably  these  two  most  desirable  crops  have 
been  neglected  by  farmers  in  general  because 
the  tangled  vines  could  not  be  cut  with  the  or- 

100 


GQ 
H 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

dinary  hay-mower,  and  reaping  with  the  sickle 
is  such  a  tedious  labor.  But  now  there  is  a 
special  cutter  made  in  Canada,  with  guards  in 
front  to  lift  the  vines  out  of  the  way  and  allow 
the  knives  to  cut  cleanly.  It  can  be  attached 
to  any  ordinary  field  mower.  Ours  was  bought 
at  a  sale  for  $3,  so  I  do  not  know  the  original 
price,  but  it  can't  be  very  much. 

Millet  should  be  cut  as  the  heads  appear. 
Clover,  when  in  full  bloom,  but  before  the 
heads  commence  to  die  down.  Green  clover 
may  be  siloed  whole  or  cut,  but  the  latter 
method  is  to  be  recommended.  The  clover 
should  not  be  left  to  wilt  between  cutting  and 
siloing,  and  the  silo  should  be  filled  rapidly, 
so  as  not  to  cause  unnecessary  losses  by  fer- 
mentation. 

The  different  species  of  clover  will  prove 
satisfactory  silo  crops;  ordinary  red  or  me- 
dium clover  is  most  used  in  Northwestern 
States,  along  with  mammoth  clover;  the  latter 
matures  later  than  medium  or  red  clover,  and 
may  therefore  be  siloed  later  than  these. 

101 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

CLOVER  FOE   SUMMER   SILAGE 

By  filling  clover  into  the  silo  at  midsummer 
or  before,  space  is  utilized  that  would  other- 
wise be  empty;  the  silage  will,  furthermore, 
be  available  for  feeding  in  the  latter  part  of 
the  summer  and  during  the  fall,  when  the  pas- 
tures are  apt  to  run  short.  This  makes  it  pos- 
sible to  keep  a  larger  number  of  stock  on  the 
farm  than  can  be  the  case  if  pastures  alone  are 
to  be  relied  upon,  and  thus  greatly  facilitates 
intensive  farming.  Now  that  stave  silos  of 
any  size  may  be  easily  and  cheaply  put  up,  it 
will  be  found  very  convenient,  at  least  on 
dairy  farms,  to  keep  a  small  separate  silo  for 
making  clover  silage  that  may  be  fed  out  dur- 
ing the  summer,  or  at  any  time  simultaneously 
with  the  feeding  of  corn  silage.  This  extra 
silo  may  also  be  used  for  the  siloing  of  odd 
lots  of  forage  that  may  happen  to  be  avail- 
able. It  is  a  good  plan,  in  siloing  clover  or 
other  light  crops  in  rather  small  silos,  to  put 
a  layer  of  corn  on  top  that  will  weight  down 

102 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

the  mass  below,  and  secure  a  more  thorough 
packing,  and  thereby  also  a  better  quality  of 
silage. 

Professor  Cottrell,  writing  for  Kansas 
farmers,  says:  "  Silage  will  keep  as  long  as 
the  silo  is  not  opened  and  has  been  kept  in 
good  condition  for  seven  years.  This  is  a 
special  advantage  to  Kansas  dairymen,  as  in 
years  of  heavy  crops  the  surplus  can  be  stored 
in  silos  for  years  of  drought,  making  all  years 
good  crop  years  for  silo  dairymen." 

Many  people  use  corn  exclusively  for  the 
silo;  others,  what  is  called  the  Robertson  Mix- 
ture— named  after  Professor  Robertson  of 
Canada — which  is  corn,  horse  beans,  and  sun- 
flower heads,  or  the  Getty  Mixture,  which 
necessitates  growing  corn  and  cowpeas  in  al- 
ternate rows  and  harvesting  together.  Neither 
of  the  latter  methods  seems  practicable  in  the 
vicinity  of  New  York,  as  horse  beans  are  dif- 
ficult to  establish,  and  the  cowpeas  only  suit- 
able for  a  catch  crop,  to  be  used  as  cut  from 
the  field.  Again,  for  the  last  mixture,  the  corn 

103 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

has  to  be  cut  before  it  reaches  maturity.  We 
have  used  corn  alone,  and  a  mixture.  All 
things  considered,  I  prefer  the  mixture,  for 
two  reasons:  First,  the  crops  like  peas,  beans, 
and  clover,  which  are  rich  in  protein,  take  the 
place  of  grain,  so  materially  reducing  ex- 
penses. Secondly,  they  belong  to  the  family 
of  legumes,  which,  while  growing,  furnish 
valuable  fertilizer  to  the  soil,  and  so  are  indis- 
pensable in  crop  rotation. 

For  the  first  two  years  we  hired  the  means 
to  fill  the  silo  from  the  stock  farm;  then,  that 
most  unfortunate  establishment  being  again 
under  the  hammer,  we  bought  the  whole  outfit, 
which  consisted  of  an  Ohio  ensillage  cutter, 
with  a  bucket  elevator,  which  would  have  cost 
$250  new,  for  $65.  At  the  same  time  we  got 
a  portable  saw  outfit,  the  engine  for  which 
gave  us  8  horse-power,  capable  of  being  used 
for  a  multitude  of  purposes.  We  gave  $100 
for  it,  and  it  seems  impossible  that  we  ever 
managed  to  accomplish  anything  without  it. 
If  we  had  had  to  buy  a  new  cutter  and  eleva- 

104 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

tor,  a  smaller  one  would  have  answered;  but 
the  larger  the  machine,  the  quicker  the  work 
can  be  done. 

The  traveling  feed-table  attached  to  the 
cutter  takes  a  bundle  of  corn  full-length, 
runs  it  into  the  knives,  from  whence  it  is  car- 
ried up  the  elevator  shaft  by  means  of  what 
are  called  the  "  buckets."  The  elevator  must 
be  several  feet  longer  than  the  silo  is  high,  so 
that  it  can  be  placed  far  enough  away  to  reach 
the  top  of  the  silo  at  an  angle.  For  instance, 
our  silo  is  30  feet  high,  and  the  carrier,  or  ele- 
vator, is  48  feet  long,  and  it  seems  about  right, 
though  the  makers  say  that  carriers  need  not 
be  more  than  4  per  cent,  longer  than  the  silo 
is  high. 

When  the  crops  are  ready,  the  cutter  and 
carrier  are  set  up  ready  for  use,  and  all  hands 
devote  themselves  to  harvesting  and  filling. 
Half  an  acre  of  corn  is  cut,  then  half  an  acre 
of  millet,  next  half  an  acre  of  soy  beans,  peas, 
or  clover — whatever  is  ready — and  the  rota- 
tion is  started  over  again. 

105 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY* 

Three  carts  are  used,  a  load  of  each  being 
brought  in  at  the  same  time.  Then  a  small 
bundle  of  each  is  placed  on  the  feed-table,  sent 
through  the  cutter,  caught  by  the  "  buckets," 
and  carried  by  the  elevator  into  the  top  of  the 
silo.  A  man  is  stationed  inside  with  a  pitch- 
fork, to  regulate  the  distribution  of  fodder  as 
it  falls.  This  is  especially  necessary  as  we  silo 
corn  without  removing  the  ears,  preferring  to 
save  the  grain  from  a  more  fully  ripened  crop. 

When  quite  full,  the  fodder  is  allowed  to 
settle  for  twenty- four  hours,  during  which 
time  it  sinks  considerably.  Then  it  is  again 
filled  up  with  freshly  cut  material,  another 
twenty-four  hours  is  allowed  to  elapse  and 
any  deficiency  made  up.  After  which  about 
four  barrels  of  water  are  pumped  up  through 
a  hose  into  the  top  of  the  silo,  to  moisten  the 
surface,  for  by  so  doing  the  top  layer  of  the 
silage  becomes  a  sort  of  slimy  seal,  which  pro- 
tects the  remainder  of  the  material. 

Probably  we  should  not  have  bought  the 
hose  especially  for  this  purpose,  but  having 

100 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

the  engine  power  to  operate  a  force-pump,  we 
thought  a  hose  would  be  a  safeguard  against 
fire. 

With  a  single  stave  silo,  like  our  first  large 
one,  the  hoops  should  be  watched  very  closely 
for  a  few  days  after  the  silo  is  filled.  If  the 
strain  becomes  quite  intense,  the  nuts  should 
be  slightly  loosened.  If,  during  the  summer, 
when  the  silo  is  empty  and  the  staves  thor- 
oughly dry,  the  hoops  are  tightened  so  that 
the  staves  are  drawn  closely  together  when 
the  silo  is  filled,  and  the  wrood  absorbs  mois- 
ture and  begins  to  swell,  the  hoops  must  be 
eased  somewhat  to  allow  for  the  expansion. 

Freezing  of  silage  is  sometimes  a  source  of 
trouble.  The  single  silo  can  be  enclosed  by  a 
wide  jacket  of  rough  boards  nailed  to  four 
uprights,  leaving  the  section  of  the  silo  where 
the  doors  are  easy  of  access.  The  space  be- 
tween the  silo  and  outside  jacket  is  filled  with 
straw  in  the  fall.  This  may  be  taken  out  and 
used  for  bedding  in  the  spring,  thus  allowing 
the  staves  to  be  thoroughly  dried  out  during 

107 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

the  summer  and  preventing  the  silo  from  rot- 
ting. 

In  the  double  or  lined  silos  freezing  may  be 
avoided  by  checking  the  ventilation,  and  by 
keeping  the  door  in  use  carefully  closed  in 
severe  weather.  If  the  top  layer  of  silage 
freezes,  some  of  the  warm  silage  may  be  mixed 
with  the  frozen  silage  an  hour  or  two  before 
feeding  time,  and  all  the  silage  will  then  be 
found  in  good  condition  when  fed  out.  A 
layer  of  straw  may  be  kept  as  a  cover  over  the 
silage.  This  will  prevent  it  from  freezing, 
and  is  easily  cleared  off  when  silage  is  to  be 
taken  out. 

If  frozen  silage  is  not  fed  out  directly  after 
thawed  it  will  spoil,  and  soon  become  unfit  to 
be  used  for  cattle  food.  Thawed  silage  will 
spoil  much  sooner  than  ordinary  silage  that 
has  not  been  frozen  and  thawed  out.  There  is 
no  evidence  that  silage  which  has  been  frozen 
and  slowly  thawed  out,  is  less  palatable  or 
nutritious  than  silage  of  the  same  kind  which 
has  been  kept  free  from  frost. 

108 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

Many  devices  for  covering  the  siloed  fod- 
der have  been  recommended  and  tried,  with 
varying  success.  The  original  method  was  to 
put  boards  on  top  of  the  fodder,  and  to  weight 
them  heavily  by  means  of  a  foot  layer  of  dirt 
or  sand  or  with  stone.  The  weighting  having 
later  on  been  done  away  with,  lighter  material, 
as  straw,  hay,  sawdust,  etc.,  was  substituted 
for  the  stone  or  sand.  Building  paper  was 
often  placed  over  the  fodder,  and  boards  on 
top  of  the  paper.  There  is  no  special  advan- 
tage derived  from  the  use  of  building  paper, 
and  it  is  now  never  used.  Many  farmers 
run  some  corn  stalks  or  green  husked  fodder 
through  the  cutter  after  the  fodder  is  all  in. 
In  the  South  cotton-seed  hulls  are  easily  ob- 
tained, and  form  a  most  efficient  and  cheap 
cover. 

None  of  these  materials,  or  any  other  recom- 
mended for  the  purpose,  can  perfectly  pre- 
serve the  uppermost  layer  of  silage,  some  four 
or  six  inches  of  the  top  layer  being  usually 
spoilt.  Occasionally  this  spoilt  silage  may  not 

109 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

be  so  bad  but  that  cattle  or  hogs  will  eat  it  up 
nearly  clean,  but  it  is  at  best  very  poor  food, 
and  should  not  be  used  by  any  farmer  who 
cares  for  the  quality  of  his  products.  The 
wet  or  green  materials  are  better  for  cover 
than  dry  substances,  since  they  prevent  evapo- 
ration of  water  from  the  top  layer.  When 
this  is  dry,  air  will  be  admitted  to  the  fodder 
below,  thus  making  it  possible  for  putrefac- 
tive bacteria  and  molds  to  continue  the  de- 
structive work  begun  by  the  fermentation  bac- 
teria, and  causing  more  of  the  silage  to  spoil. 

There  is  only  one  way  in  which  all  of  the 
silage  can  be  preserved  intact,  viz.,  by  begin- 
ning to  feed  the  silage  within  a  few  days  after 
the  silo  has  been  filled.  This  method  is  now 
practised  by  many  farmers,  especially  dairy- 
men, who,  in  this  manner,  supplement  scant 
fall  pastures. 

By  beginning  to  feed  at  once  from  the  silo, 
the  siloing  system  is  brought  to  perfection, 
provided  the  silo  structure  is  air-tight,  and 
constructed  so  as  to  admit  of  no  unnecessary 

110 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

losses  of  nutrients.  Under  these  conditions 
there  is  a  very  considerable  saving  of  food 
materials  over  the  silage  made  in  poorly  con- 
structed silos  or  over  field-cured  shocked  fod- 
der corn. 


Ill 


CHAPTER   FIVE 

THE   BARN-YARD   WEALTH 

BARN- YARD  manure  is  the  farm's  most  valu- 
able asset,  for  without  it  the  fertility  of  the 
land  cannot  be  maintained.  Deteriorating 
soils  curtail  crops,  and  eventually  wreck  the 
whole  scheme  of  supply  and  demand,  so  essen- 
tial to  prosperous  husbandry.  Yet  this  fun- 
damental factor  of  success  is  ruthlessly  dissi- 
pated by  carelessness,  and  then  hundreds  of 
dollars  are  spent  annually  to  supply  substi- 
tutes, in  the  form  of  commercial  fertilizers, 
which  are  inferior  in  every  respect,  except 
cost.  They  will,  of  course,  stimulate  growth, 
and  are  serviceable  if  used  in  moderation,  and 
under  certain  conditions;  but  they  do  not  im- 
prove the  texture  and  drainage  of  the  soil, 
and  barn-yard  manure  does. 

Strange  to  say,  even  farmers  are  extremely 
hazy  about  the  relative  values  of  solid  and 

112 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 


liquid  excrements  from  different  kinds  of 
animals,  or  how  the  animal's  age,  food,  and 
material  used  for  its  bedding  affect  them; 
yet  such  knowledge  is  important,  for  it  can  be 
of  much  value  in  selecting  food,  litter,  and 
regulating  the  order  of  placing  the  different 
clearings  on  the  manure  pile,  so  as  to  obtain 
the  best  ultimate  results. 

Sheep  and  horse  droppings  are  classed  as 
hot  manure,  ferment  rapidly,  and  quickly 
generate  high  heat.  Pig  and  cattle  manure 
are  more  watery;  hence  decompose  slowly, 
and  develop  little  heat.  The  relative  values, 
per  ton,  of  manure  from  different  animals, 
is  given  by  analysis,  as  follows: 

COMPOSITION   OF   SOLID   AND    LIQUID   EXCRE- 
MENT OF  FARM  ANIMALS. 


Water. 

Nitrogen. 

Phosphoric 
Acid. 

Alkalies  (potash 

and  soda). 

Solid. 
Per  C't. 

Liquid. 
Per  C't. 

Solid. 
Per  C't. 

Liquid. 
Per  C't. 

Solid. 
Per  C't 

Liquid. 
Per  C't. 

Solid. 
Per  C't. 

Liquid. 
Per  C't. 

Horses.  .  . 

76 

89.0 

0.50 

1.20 

0  35 

Trace  . 

0.30 

1.5 

Cows  

84 

92.0 

0.30 

0.80 

0.25 

Trace. 

0.10 

1.4 

Swine.  .  . 

80 

97.5 

0.60 

0.30 

0.45 

0.125 

0.50 

0.2 

Sheep.  .  . 

58 

86.5 

0.75 

1.40 

0.60 

0.050 

0.30 

2.0 

113 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 


Commercial  nitrogen  is  valued  at  15  cents, 
phosphoric  acid  at  6  cents,  and  potash  at  41/2 
cents  per  pound;  and  it  has  been  estimated 
that  the  amount  and  value  of  manure  pro- 
duced per  1,000  pounds  of  live  weight  of  dif- 
ferent animals  is: 


Amount 
per  day. 
Pounds. 

Value 
per  day. 
Cents. 

Value 
per  year. 

Sheep  

34  1 

7  2 

$26  09 

67  8 

6  1 

24.  00 

PlCTS    . 

83  6 

16  7 

P>ft  ftS 

J.  IgS    -  • 

Cows  -•-••••-••- 

74  1 

8  0 

2Q  27 

48  8 

7  6 

27  74 

These  estimates  are  based  on  droppings 
from  animals  of  all  ages.  The  fertilizing 
value  would  be  much  greater  if  manure  from 
full-grown  animals,  in  normal  condition,  had 
been  considered,  for  they  do  not  require  any 
of  the  nitrogen,  phosphoric  acid,  or  potash; 
therefore,  nearly  all  these  ingredients  pres- 
ent in  the  material  fed  pass  through  the  body 
without  deduction.  On  the  other  hand,  grow- 
ing animals  and  milch  cows  retain  from  25  to 

114 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 


50  per  cent.,  to  aid  the  production  of  muscle, 
sinew,  horn,  and  milk.  Fattening  and  work- 
ing animals  retain  from  5  to  10  per  cent. 

Under  all  circumstances,  and  with  all  kinds 
of  animals,  the  material  fed  bears  directly  on 
the  manure.  Agricultural  experts  have  worked 
out  the  fertilizing  value  contained  in  some  of 
the  more  general  feeding  materials,  as  follows: 


Value  of 
nitrogen 
in  1  ton. 

Value  of 
phosphor- 
ic acid 
in  1  ton. 

Value  of 
potash  in 
1  ton. 

Total 
fertilizing 
value 
per  ton. 

$4.53 
0.78 
1.29 
6.63 
5.70 
15.09 
20.85 
16.08 
29.01 
7.08 
5.36 
1.74 
3.00 
7.56 
0.81 
0.48 

$0.83 
0.14 
0.16 
0.82 
0.54 
0.39 
3.66 
2.28 
6.01 
0.96 
0.90 
0.26 
0.43 
3.40 
0.30 
0.14 

$0.31 
0.32 
0,44 
2.26 
1.31 
0.05 
1.65 
0.99 
0.67 
0.45 
0.45 
1.08 
1.17 
1.34 
1.02 
0.34 

$5.68 
1.24 
1.89 
9.71 
7.55 
15.53 
26.16 
19.36 
35.69 
8.49 
6.70 
2.11 
4.60 
12.30 
2.18 
0.96 

Crimson  clover  (green) 
Crimson  clover  hay  — 
Red  clover  hav  ------ 

Cotton-seed  meal  

Whpat  -  . 

Oat«s 

\Vheat  straw  --..---- 

Turnips  -.-....--.-- 

115 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

Feeding  highly  nitrogenous  materials,  of 
course,  increases  the  amount  of  the  most  ex- 
pensive fertilizing  ingredient,  nitrogen,  in  the 
solid  excrements,  and  materially  increases  the 
quantity  of  liquid  manure,  which  necessitates 
using  more  bedding,  and  largely  increases  the 
manure  heap. 

Straw,  dry  leaves,  sawdust,  and  peat  are 
among  the  best  materials  for  bedding,  because 
they  possess  the  much  prized  nitrogen,  and 
therefore  have  individual  value,  irrespective  of 
their  specific  purpose  of  absorbing  the  mois- 
ture in  the  stables,  and  preventing  it  from 
evaporating. 

Poultry  manure,  which  has  not  entered  into 
any  of  the  foregoing  calculations,  is  one  of 
» the  richest,  for  it  combines  the  undigested  resi- 
due of  food  and  liquid  secretions,  which  always 
contain  a  higher  percentage  of  nitrogen  and 
potash  than  the  solid  droppings.  We  con- 
sider that  the  poultry  houses  contribute  as 
much  manurial  value  as  the  barns,  stables,  or 
sheep  fold. 

116 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

In  bulk,  the  cow  and  pig  produce  the  best 
supply,  but,  being  poor  in  fertilizing  constitu- 
ents, are  not  so  valuable,  except  in  the  fibrous 
substances,  which  furnish  humus  in  soil,  and 
make  it  capable  of  collecting  oxygen,  with- 
out which  roots  smother  and  die. 

Having  gained  some  insight  into  the  fer- 
tilizing qualities  of  manure,  I  was  appalled 
to  read  that  the  annual  loss  in  America, 
through  incompetent  handling,  amounted  to 
$690,466,000,  or,  as  Professor  Roberts  has 
more  personally  explained  it,  a  farmer  keep- 
ing 4  horses,  20  cows,  50  sheep,  and  10  pigs 
should  have  $250  worth  of  manure  from 
the  seven  winter  months;  and  that  the  aver- 
age loss  on  such  a  farm  is  rarely  less  than 
$83. 

The  latter  figures  being  so  appliable  to  our 
farm,  I  delved  into  more  statistics,  to  find  out 
the  whys  and  wherefores  of  the  perpetually 
re-occurring  terms  fermentation,  fire-fanging, 
and  leaching,  to  discover  that  fermentation  is 
a  very  complex  process,  dependent  on  temper- 

117 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

ature,  air,  moisture,  condition  of  the  manure, 
and  microbes. 

As  I  comprehend  the  subject,  there  are  two 
families  of  microscopic  organisms  known  to 
entomologists  as  serobic  ferments,  which  are  de- 
pendent on  oxygen  for  life,  and  serobic  fer- 
ments, which  evidently  abhor  oxygen,  for  they 
die  when  exposed  to  air.  Atoms  No.  1  per- 
form their  ordained  purpose  so  energetically 
as  to  generate  heat  that  will  run  up  to  150  de- 
grees F. — a  temperature  which  dissipates  the 
material  that  should  be  left  to  form  humus, 
and  liberates  the  nitrogen,  which  escapes  into 
the  atmosphere,  and  causes  the  dry  condition 
called  fire- fang.  Atoms  No.  2  work  in  so 
slow  a  way,  that,  in  the  center  of  the  heap, 
or  where  no  air  disturbs  their  normal  action, 
the  temperature  will  not  rise  above  95  de- 
grees, which  is  too  low,  and  causes  many 
fertilizing  qualities  to  be  converted  into  un- 
profitable gases.  Leaching  is,  of  course,  en- 
couraged where  manure  is  exposed  to  rain  or 
snow. 

118 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

Having  mastered  these  facts,  it  was  quite 
easy  to  understand  that  the  carelessly  thrown- 
out  manure  and  litter,  which  is  allowed  to 
form  into  any  sort  of  a  haphazard  sprawly 
heap,  must  be  wasteful,  because  the  irregu- 
lar surface  allows  the  constant  circulation  of 
air  through  the  greater  portion  of  the  mass, 
and  encourages  the  advance  of  the  consum- 
ing atoms,  and  permits  rain  to  form  pools 
and  soak  slowly  away,  carrying  with  it  the 
leachings,  rich  in  organic  and  mineral  con- 
stituents. 

Obviously,  to  realize  the  maximum  value, 
methods  must  be  revolutionized;  so  Mr.  Fred 
was  instructed  to  have  a  tidying  day  in  the 
barn-yard,  pile  up  the  manure  in  heaps  about 
5  feet  wide,  and  8  or  10  feet  long  and  high, 
with  neatly  smoothed  surface,  so  that  rain 
or  snow  would  be  easily  shed.  Of  course 
he  was  cautioned  not  to  pack  down  material, 
as  that  would  give  the  slow-acting  anaerobic 
ferments  undue  influence.  To  maintain  equal 
disintegration  and  amalgamation,  the  two 

119 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

families  of  microbes  must  be  held  in  uniform 
control,  which  can  only  be  accomplished  by 
watchful  care,  when  the  manure  is  so  pro- 
tected  from  rain,  wind  and  sunshine,  as  to 
permit  the  herdsman  full  control.  The  most 
favorable  condition  for  ripening  manure,  and 
rendering  available  the  fertilizing  constitu- 
ents, is  constant,  uniform  moisture  and  a  tem- 
perature of  about  130. 

The  memory  of  things  seen  as  a  child,  dur- 
ing holidays  spent  on  my  grandfather's  farm 
in  England,  had  prompted  the  placing  of 
drain  pipes  from  stables  and  cow  stalls  into 
sunken  barrels,  to  save  the  liquids  for  use  in 
garden  and  orchard;  but,  having  no  real 
knowledge  of  the  subject,  I  did  not  realize 
that  liquids,  stored  separately,  deteriorate  so 
rapidly  as  to  be  of  little  value,  though  origi- 
nally they  are  the  richest  in  fertilizing  quali- 
ties. 

Amongst  the  collected  data  on  the  subject 
of  manure  were  two  pamphlets  on  French 
methods,  which  especially  appealed  and 

120 


E 

(3 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

aroused  such  an  admiration  for  the  combined 
method  of  manipulating  solids  and  liquids, 
that  we  decided  to  adopt  it;  for,  though  the 
symmetrical  and  even  packing  was  a  decided 
improvement,  it  did  not  approach  perfection. 
I  should  like  to  have  built  the  entire  concrete 
cistern  and  inclosure,  but  such  grandeur  be- 
longs to  the  estate  of  the  really  wealthy. 
Ordinarily  prosperous  people,  on  a  practical 
farm,  have  to  consider  the  ultimate  return; 
and  labor  necessary  for  such  an  inclosure,  I 
was  sure,  would  far  outstep  the  profits.  But 
the  poorest  farmer  can  afford  a  floor  and 
shelter  such  as  we  put  up,  and  will  reap  a 
full  return  the  first  year. 

A  space  25  feet  long  and  20  feet  wide  was 
cleared,  and  slightly  sloped  to  the  center,  so 
that  all  drainage  would  collect  at  that  point, 
where  a  large  barrel  was  sunk.  Four  straight 
young  trees  were  chopped  down,  where  thin- 
ning was  needed  in  the  woods,  trimmed  off, 
and  cut  to  a  uniform  length  of  15  feet;  the 

larger  ends  submerged  in  hot  tar,  to  act  as  a 

121 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

preservative,  and,  when  dry,  inserted  in  holes 
three  feet  deep,  at  each  corner  of  the  cleared 
space,  as  supports  for  the  crib  roof,  which  was 
made  of  3  X  4  scantling,  shingle  slats  and 


THE  MANURE  SHED. 

roofing  paper.  Then  the  floor  was  given  a 
coat  of  concrete,  and  a  curb,  one  foot  high, 
was  run  all  around  the  edge,  to  prevent  leach- 
ings  escaping  from  the  "  dish." 

A  strong  cover  was  made,  and  raised  two 
122 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

inches  above  the  edge  of  the  barrel  by  small 
blocks,  to  allow  the  free  passage  of  leachings 
into  the  barrel.  Through  the  center  of  the 
cover  a  common  force-pump  was  fastened, 
with  a  pipe  reaching  to  within  a  foot  and  a 
half  of  the  bottom  of  the  barrel.  A  piece  of 
hose,  six  feet  long,  to  attach  to  the  pump, 
completed  the  equipment. 

As  we  owned  a  machine  for  cutting  ensil- 
lage,  and  the  engine  to  run  it,  most  of  the 
straw  used  for  bedding  was  cut  into  two-foot 
lengths,  which  is  most  convenient  for  litter. 
When  straw  is  used  at  its  full  length,  it  fre- 
quently compels  a  quantity  of  unsoiled  litter 
being  thrown  out,  which  not  only  wastes  ma- 
terial, but  materially  weakens  the  value  of 
the  manure  heap. 

Our  plan  is  to  use  a  thick  layer  of  sawdust 
across  the  lower  end  of  the  stalls,  where  the 
most  moisture  is  deposited,  and  bed  heavily. 
Only  the  really  defiled  straw  and  sawdust  is 
removed  to  the  manure  heap,  the  partly  soiled 
being  carted  to  the  pig  yard.  (A  covered 

123 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

shed  joining  the  stys,  where  the  growing  pigs 
spend  mo3t  of  their  time.)  Horse  stables  are 
cleaned  first,  and  the  collection  of  sawdust, 
straw  and  droppings  is  spread  evenly  over  the 
accumulating  heap,  on  one  side  of  the  "  dish  " ; 
next,  the  clearing  from  the  cow  stables,  then 
the  sheep  and  young  stock. 

Observing  such  rotation,  the  heap  is  kept 
at  about  an  equally  balanced  consistency  and 
temperature.  After  a  height  of  ten  feet  is 
reached,  another  heap  is  started  on  the  other 
side  of  the  "  dish,"  the  first  heap  being 
watched,  and  kept  moist  by  periodical  sprin- 
kling from  the  barrel.  During  dry  periods 
most  of  the  leachings  are  quickly  used.  Then 
the  contents  of  the  barrels  into  which  the  dif- 
ferent stable  gutters  drain  is  brought  over 
and  used;  failing  that  supply,  plain  water. 
Excessively  wet  or  humid  periods,  when  more 
liquid  collects  than  is  required  by  the  manure 
heaps,  the  partly  soiled  litter,  instead  of  being 
given  to  the  pigs,  is  made  into  a  separate  heap, 
and  fed  with  the  leaching;  or,  if  there  is  a 

124 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

good  supply  of  sawdust  and  leaves  at  hand, 
they  are  used  instead  of  the  straw. 

The  heaps  are  forked  over  two  or  three 
times,  at  regular  intervals  of  ten  days,  as 
spring  approaches,  to  insure  even  ripening  of 
the  whole  mass,  and  to  aid  disintegration. 
The  first  completed  heap  is  used  for  frames 
and  garden;  second,  for  potatoes  and  small 
fruits. 

The  manure  in  the  pig-yard  and  cow-yard 
is  allowed  to  accumulate  all  through  the  win- 
ter. Yards  being  covered,  it  is  protected  from 
rain  and  sun,  and  the  perpetual  tramping  of 
the  animals  keeps  it  in  very  fair  condition.  In 
the  spring  it  is  carted  out  to  the  ground,  to  be 
used  for  coarser  field  crops — sometimes  alone, 
but  frequently  in  conjunction  with  poultry 
droppings,  which  furnish  the  qualities  lacking  - 
in  cow  and  pig  manure. 

The  dropping  boards  in  the  poultry  houses 
are  heavily  sprinkled  with  dry  earth  or  saw- 
dust, which  covers  the  droppings  as  they  fall 
from  the  birds  during  the  night,  and  arrests 

125 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

the  escape  of  fertilizing  qualities  until  the 
boards  are  cleaned,  which,  with  us,  is  every 
other  day.  Then  every  50  pounds  of  the  clear- 
ings are  mixed  with  16  pounds  of  acid  phos- 
phate, and  stored  in  barrels,  to  be  used  on 
special  crops,  like  onions,  cabbage,  cauliflow- 
ers, and  bulbous  plants.  When  we  think  suf- 
ficient has  been  treated  in  that  way  to  meet 
the  coming  season's  requirements,  the  clear- 
ings are  spread  between  layers  of  sod,  or 
added  to  the  general  manure  heap  after  a 
layer  from  the  young  cattle. 

The  monthly  clearings  of  scratching  ma- 
terial, from  the  main  floor  of  the  poultry 
houses,  are  added  to  the  general  heap,  or 
carted  immediately  to  some  specially  selected 
place,  which  is  usually  small  fruit,  young  or- 
chard, or  strawberry  ground. 

Wood  ashes  are  saved  especially,  and  used 
principally  on  potatoes. 

Several  authorities  advise  hauling  manure 
directly  from  the  stables  to  the  land,  as  it  saves 
trouble  and  time  in  handling,  and  caring  for 

126 


THE    EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

a  manure  heap;  but  the  method  does  not  ap- 
peal to  me,  because  such  unseasoned  material 
contains  constituents  which  encourage  exces- 
sive growth  of  stem  and  leaf,  to  the  detriment 
of  flowers  and  fruit.  Moreover,  it  does  not 
allow  the  balancing  of  different  qualities  of 
droppings,  which  seems  very  important  espe- 
cially on  old,  worn-out  farms,  where  supply- 
ing the  material  in  a  condition  of  disintegra- 
tion furnishes  humus  much  more  quickly  than 
can  possibly  be  the  case  when  the  bedding  is 
carted  out  in  a  semi-solid  condition.  In  fact, 
expert  agriculturists  agree  that  well-mixed 
and  ripened  manure,  which  has  been  protected 
from  the  elements,  is  a  most  desirable  and 
profitable  land  enricher,  and  W.  H.  Beal  in- 
dorses this  system  in  a  summary  which  I  quote 
from  a  farm  bulletin : 

There  are  sound,  scientific  reasons  for  the 
high  esteem  in  which  this  manure  is  held.  It 
requires  all  the  fertilizing  elements  required 
by  plants,  in  forms  that  insure  plentiful  crops 
and  permanent  fertility  to  the  soil.  It  not 

127 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

only  enriches  the  soil  with  the  nitrogen,  phos- 
phoric acid,  and  potash  which  it  contains,  but 
it  also  renders  the  stored-up  materials  of  the 
soil  more  available,  improves  the  mechanical 
condition  of  the  soil,  makes  it  warmer,  and  en- 
ables it  to  retain  more  moisture  or  to  draw  it 
up  from  below. 

It  should  be  clearly  understood  that  when 
the  farmer  sells  meat,  milk,  grain,  hay,  vege- 
tables, etc.,  from  his  farm,  or  neglects  to  save 
and  use  the  manure  produced,  he  removes 
from  his  soil  a  certain  amount  of  potash, 
phosphoric  acid,  and  nitrogen  that  must  be 
restored  sooner  or  later  if  productiveness  is  to 
be  maintained. 

The  table  on  p.  129,  compiled  by  Armsby, 
shows  the  amount  and  value  of  fertilizing  con- 
stituents carried  away  from  the  soil  in  differ- 
ent products. 

If  the  farmer,  instead  of  selling  off  his 
crops,  feeds  them  to  live  stock  on  the  farm  as 
far  as  possible,  a  large  proportion  of  this  fer- 
tility, as  shown  above,  is  retained  on  the  farm; 

128 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 


Pounds  per  ton. 

Value  per  ton. 

Manu- 
rial 
ralue 
of  $10 
worth. 

$5.10 
9.07 
0.12 
8.32 
7.54 
10.05 
2.03 
3.86 
3.78 
3.03 
0.88 
0.69 
1.18 

Nitro- 
gen. 

Phos- 
phoric 
acid. 

Potash. 

Nitro- 
gen. 

Phos- 
phoric 
acid. 

Potash. 

Total. 

Meadow  hay  

20.42 
40.16 
7.01 
49.15 
105.12 
135.65 
37.53 
36.42 
33.06 
39.65 
10.20 
90.60 
53.20 

8.2 
11.2 
3.2 
54.6 
32.2 
56.2 
15.8 
12.4 
11.8 
15.4 
3.4 
23.0 
37.2 

26.4 
36.6 
11.4 
28.6 
24.8 
29.2 
10.6 
8.8 
7.4 
9.0 
3.0 
5.0 
3.4 

$3.47 
6.83 
1.19 
8.35 
17.87 
23.06 
6.38 
6.21 
5.62 
6.74 
1.73 
15.40 
9.04 

$0.57 
0.78 
0.22 
3.82 
2.25 
3.93 
1.11 
0.87 
0.83 
1.08 
0.24 
1.61 
2.60 

$1.06 
1.46 
0.46 
1.14 
0.99 
1.17 
0.42 
0.35 
0.30 
0.36 
0.12 
0.20 
0.14 

$5.10 
9.07 
1.87 
13.31 
21.11 
28.16 
7.91 
7.43 
6.75 
8.18 
2.09 
17.21 
11.78 

Clover  hay  

Potatoes  

Wheat  bran  

Linseed  meal  
Cotton-seed  meal.  .  . 
Wheat  

Oats  

Corn  

Barley  

Milk  

Cheese  

Live  cattle  

and  "  if  the  business  of  stock-raising  is  carried 
to  the  point  where  feed  is  purchased  in  addi- 
tion to  that  grown  on  the  farm,  a  considerable 
addition  may  in  this  way  be  made  to  the  fer- 
tility of  the  farm  at  an  almost  nominal  cost, 
since  it  is  assumed  that  feed  will  not  be  bought 
unless  its  feeding  value  will  at  least  pay  its 
cost."  This  commendable  system  of  indirect 
fertilizers  in  feeding  stuff s  is  practised  largely 
in  England  and  other  European  countries, 
and  accounts  for  no  small  share  of  the  profits 
of  stock-raising  in  those  countries. 

But  it  is  evident  that  these  advantages  will 
129 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

not  be  secured  unless  the  manure  produced  is 
carefully  saved  and  used. 

Before  buying  commercial  fertilizer,  the 
amateur  will  be  wise  to  consult  neighbors;  or, 
better  still,  write  to  different  firms  advertis- 
ing such  wares,  explain,  as  nearly  as  possible, 
the  sort  of  soil,  last  crop  grown  upon  it,  and 
the  one  to  be  grown  upon  it;  and  get  their  ad- 
vice as  to  the  best  combination  to  use. 


130 


CHAPTER    SIX 

THE   ORCHARD 

AN  old  orchard,  in  fair  condition,  covered 
half  of  the  twelve  acres  we  originally  rented 
with  the  Wilbur  homestead.  Our  first  year 
there  happened  to  be  a  phenomenally  good 
fruit  season.  When  the  trees  were  in  blos- 
som, we  reveled  in  their  pink  and  white 
beauty  without  any  mercenary  thoughts;  but 
when  the  aesthetic  feast  commenced  to  fade, 
the  practical  asserted  itself,  and,  in  defiance 
of  the  adage  about  not  counting  your  chick- 
ens before  they  are  hatched,  we  speculated 
on  the  probability  of  financial  results,  which 
mounted  higher  as  the  fruit  approached  ma- 
turity, though  there  had  been  lots  of  quakey 
days,  when  little  green  apples  strewed  the 
ground,  and  it  seemed  as  if  Mother  Nature 
was  doing  a  needless  amount  of  thinning. 

131 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

Later,  thunder  showers  and  the  winds 
brought  down  ripening  fruit,  that  filled  us 
with  apprehension,  the  strain  of  which  was 
not  relieved  until  the  middle  of  September. 
Then  a  man,  who  lived  in  an  adjoining  vil- 
lage and  made  a  business  of  buying  in  or- 
chards as  they  stood,  came  up  to  the  house, 
and  offered  $70  for  the  crop,  which  I  ac- 
cepted most  readily,  as  my  husband's  business 
had  taken  him  to  California,  and  Sidney  and 
I  could  never  have  picked  and  packed  the 
fruit  for  market. 

When  the  huckster  paid  me,  he  volunteered 
the  information  that  there  were  a  mighty  lot 
of  good  trees  in  the  orchard,  if  they  were  only 
trimmed  up  a  little;  adding  that,  many  a  sea- 
son in  the  past,  he  had  paid  from  three  to  four 
hundred  dollars  for  the  crop.  The  man  re- 
ceived my  most  devout  thanks,  for  we  had 
considered  the  orchard  as  almost  hopeless — at 
least  never  expecting  to  get  more  than  enough 
fruit  for  our  own  use  from  it;  but  knowing, 
from  hearsay,  that  the  man  was  an  unerring 

132 


THE    EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

judge  of  trees  and  fruit,  I  resolved  to  appro- 
priate $25  of  the  $75  to  use  in  resuscitating 
the  trees. 

The  number  of  flickers  and  bluebirds  which 
congregated  at  nesting  time  suggested  hol- 
low trees.  Traces  of  sawdust  on  the  bark 
near  the  ground,  I  learned,  were  unmistakable 
signs  that  the  borers  were  at  work.  Then  there 
were  patches  of  scaly  and  moldy  growth  here 
and  there — all  signs  that  a  general  over- 
hauling was  necessary.  The  trees  had  evi- 
dently been  intelligently  pruned  and  tended 
until  a  few  years  prior  to  our  tenancy,  so  the 
main  growth  was  well  proportioned,  though 
suckers  and  water  sprouts  had  run  riot.  Sev- 
eral of  the  holes  appropriated  for  nests  had 
undoubtedly  been  caused  by  branches  being 
broken  off,  either  by  the  winds  or  carelessness 
at  gathering  time. 

The  ground  was  covered  with  sod  in  which 
clover  predominated,  and  it  did  not  seem  nec- 
essary or  advisable  to  plow,  especially  as  the 
old-fashioned  custom  of  piling  stones  round 

133 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

the  trees  had  been  practised  for  years.  With 
the  amateur's  usual  rashness,  a  drastic  on- 
slaught on  the  trees  was  planned  for  the 
spring.  Fortunately,  enough  practical  infor- 
mation had  been  gained  from  books  before  it 
arrived  to  prevent  such  a  folly,  and  to  prompt 
conservative,  gradual  pruning;  for  if  trees 
have  been  neglected  several  years,  and  are 
then  ruthlessly  cut  back,  they  will  devote  all 
their  energies,  for  the  next  few  seasons,  to 
growing  new  wood  instead  of  fruit. 

Not  being  experts,  we  concluded  to  con- 
fine our  efforts  to  removing  suckers  and  dead 
wood,  healing  neglected  wounds,  spraying, 
and  checking  the  decay  in  hollow  places,  by 
cleaning  and  filling,  as  suggested  in  an  article 
on  hollow  trees  which  had  come  into  my  pos- 
session. The  necessity  of  depriving  the  flick- 
ers and  bluebirds  of  their  nesting  places  was 
a  regret,  but  the  trees  had  to  be  saved.  Event- 
ually, we  palliated  sentiment  and  practical- 
ness by  mending  the  trees,  and  then  fasten- 
ing similarly  hollowed  branches  from  the 

134 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

woods  over  or  near  the  original  holes,  which 
seemed  quite  satisfactory  to  our  feathered 
friends  when  they  arrived  in  the  spring. 

Treating  the  hollow  places  consisted  in 
scooping  out  all  the  loose  material  collected  in- 
side, with  a  long-handled  spoon,  when  possible ; 
but  in  some  cases  the  decay  had  travelled  so 
far,  that  an  opening  had  to  be  cut  in  the  tree 
far  below  the  hole.  In  either  case,  when  all 
loose  tissue  had  been  scraped  away,  a  small 
wad  of  cotton  batting  was  soaked  in  kerosene, 
lighted,  and  dropped  in  the  cavity,  to  burn  out 
insects  and  germs.  If  the  cavity  was  so  large 
as  to  suggest  the  probability  of  the  tree's  not 
being  able  to  stand  against  wind,  or  the  weight 
of  summer  foliage,  it  was  filled  in  with  cement. 
If,  on  the  other  hand,  the  cavity  was  small 
after  being  cleaned  out,  a  piece  of  wood  was 
inserted  like  a  bung,  to  close  the  opening, 
which  was  then  painted  with  tar. 

When  the  telltale  sawdust  pointed  out  a 
borer's  presence,  a  strong  wire  was  inserted, 
and,  if  possible,  the  nasty  little  grub  fished 

135 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

out.  If  this  could  not  be  accomplished,  the 
bellows-smoker,  which  we  used  when  handling 
bees,  was  lighted,  and  a  few  minutes  strong 
smoking  resorted  to.  Then,  of  course,  the 
crevice  was  covered  with  tar  or  paint. 

The  long,  straight  suckers,  which  sprung 
from  trunk  and  branches,  were  all  cut  off, 
close  to  their  starting  place,  but  no  other  prun- 
ing was  done  this  first  season  of  reformation. 

While  the  trees  were  still  dormant  they  were 
sprayed  twice  with  lime-sulphur-salt  wash,  as 
a  preventative  or  cure  for  the  San  Jose  scale 
or  other  pests  of  the  same  ilk.  Just  before 
blossoming,  and  again  after  the  fruit  set,  each 
tree  had  a  shower  bath  of  Bordeaux  mixture. 
Of  course,  we  extended  the  same  attention  to 
the  few  pear,  peach,  cherry  and  plum  trees 
which  grew  at  the  side  and  back  of  the  house. 

The  season  following  all  this  sanatory  work 
was  the  off  year  in  the  orchard;  but  yet,  the 
fruit  brought  only  $3  less  than  the  season  be- 
fore. 

All  through  the  year  young  poultry   was 
136 


i 

g 

02 


a 

p 
H 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

kept  in  the  orchard.  Colony  houses,  being 
only  6  feet  long  and  3  feet  wide,  were  very 
light,  having  no  floors,  so  easily  moved  to  a 
fresh  place  every  few  days.  By  such  means 
the  orchard  was  evenly  fertilized  and  coops 
kept  clean. 

The  future  care  of  the  orchard  consisted 
in  rubbing  off  suckers  as  soon  as  they  made 
their  appearance,  moderate  pruning  in  the 
main  growth,  to  let  in  sun  and  air,  and  liberal 
spraying. 

The  second  season  of  such  management  the 
same  dealer  called  in  August,  and  offered  to 
give  $200  down  for  the  crop,  taking  all  risk 
of  what  might  happen  before  gathering  time, 
and,  of  course,  doing  the  picking  and  packing 
as  before.  Wanting  the  money,  and  having 
more  work  than  it  seemed  possible  for  Sidney 
and  his  father  (who  had  just  been  engaged) 
to  manage,  I  accepted  the  offer.  Since  then, 
having  the  necessary  help,  and  a  good  clientele 
of  private  customers,  we  handle  the  fruit  our- 
selves, and  have  never  cleared  less  than  $108 

137 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

on  a  season,  including  the  Bartlett  pears;  and 
profits  have  run  up  as  high  as  $600,  which,  I 
think,  is  especially  good  for  an  old  orchard 
from  which  we  had  not  expected  any  income. 
The  majority  of  trees  are  winter  fruit — 
Northern  Spies,  Roxbury  Russets,  Spitzen- 
bergs,  Rhode  Island  Greenings,  and  Bald- 
wins, with  just  a  few  trees  of  what  our  neigh- 
bors call  Harvesters,  a  delicious  apple,  fine, 
juicy,  with  a  crisp,  clean  sweetness  which  is 
most  appetizing  when  eaten  raw.  Baked, 
boiled,  or  stewed,  it  retains  its  flavor,  and  be- 
comes a  uniform,  puffy  jelly,  almost  trans- 
parent, and  just  the  shade  of  amber  to  blend 
with  thick  cream. 


GATHERING  AND   MARKETING 

As  gathering  and  packing  is  of  paramount 
importance  in  keeping  fruit,  either  for  home 
use  or  for  market,  it  must  be  carefully  exe- 
cuted. It  is  not  possible  to  give  positive  dates 
for  gathering  the  different  varieties,  because 

138 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

locality,  soil,  and  seasons  all  influence  them. 
The  most  favorable  time  is  when  the  fruit  has 
attained  its  full  growth  and  color,  which  is 
several  days  before  it  is  quite  ripe.  Apples, 
in  fact  all  fruit,  should  be  handled  with  the 
greatest  care.  The  slightest  bruise  or  scratch 
starts  a  condition  which  will  develop  rot. 

A  light  extension  ladder,  a  high  step-lad- 
der, and  an  agile  boy  are  the  requisites  for  pick- 
ing. When  possible,  choose  a  bright,  cool 
day,  have  the  boxes  and  barrels  ready,  and 
press  all  help  into  the  service.  Before  allow- 
ing anyone  to  pick  apples  teach  them  how. 
Take  the  apple  lightly,  turn  it  slowly,  and 
press  upward,  so  that  the  stem  is  severed  from 
the  branch  and  not  from  the  fruit.  The  stem 
seems  to  be  nature's  seal,  which  imprisons  the 
life  or  heart  of  the  fruit.  I  have  no  authority 
for  this  assertion,  except  my  own  observation, 
but  that  has  convinced  me  that  fruit  which  re- 
tains the  stem  keeps  the  longest. 

The  boy,  or  whoever  may  have  to  do  the 
climbing,  should  discard  shoes,  for  they  are 

139 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

apt  to  injure  the  bark  of  the  tree,  which  al- 
ways causes  later  troubles.  A  shallow  bag, 
slung  across  the  body  sling-  fashion,  is  the  best 
receptacle  for  the  picker  to  use,  because  it 
leaves  both  hands  free.  The  work  is  greatly 
facilitated  if  two  people  can  pick,  two  pack, 
and  a  fifth  take  the  fruit  from  the  pickers  to 
the  packers.  Have  two  bag-slings  for  each 
person  picking,  so  that  the  collector  can  take 
the  full  one,  and  hand  up  an  empty  one,  which 
saves  emptying  the  fruit  into  a  basket. 

The  packers  and  the  barrels  or  boxes  should 
stand  side  by  side,  with  a  box  of  convenient 
height  and  size  turned  upside  down,  to  act  as 
a  table  on  which  to  place  the  sling-bags  when 
full.  One  person  should  be  instructed  to  take 
all  the  largest  apples,  the  others,  the  next  in 
size;  the  really  small  ones  being  gently  emp- 
tied into  a  receptacle  which  can  be  easily 
moved.  We  use  a  hand-cart,  with  a  layer  of 
hay  at  the  bottom. 

The  first  layer  of  apples  is  placed  evenly, 
stalk  end  down,  in  the  bottom  of  barrels,  for 

140 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

ordinary  commission  houses.  Above  that 
they  are  just  put  in,  a  few  at  a  time,  with  no 
attempt  to  fix,  the  barrels  being  shaken  gently 
two  or  three  times  during  the  filling,  to  settle 
the  fruit  closely  together.  Then,  when  quite 
full,  the  top  is  forced  into  place  and  the  hoops 
nailed  fast. 

All  our  best  apples  are  packed  in  small 
boxes,  with  paper  between  the  layers,  because 
private  customers  like  them  better  than  bar- 
rels. The  second  quality  we  put  into  barrels, 
but  they  go  to  regular  customers  who  know 
that  we  do  no  facing,  as  the  first  row  of 
selected  and  evenly  placed  fruit  is  termed; 
we  put  a  layer  of  hay  in  the  bottom  of  the 
barrel,  fill  it  with  the  fruit,  and  end  with  a 
layer  of  hay.  Having  no  cold  storage,  we 
ship  as  soon  as  packed. 

What  we  require  for  our  own  use  for  the 
winter  are  packed  in  boxes  and  stored  in  the 
cellar.  The  small  ones  are  used  for  cider  and 
for  feeding  stock,  the  latter  going  into  a  bin 
in  the  root  cellar  under  the  feed-house,  where 

141 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

we  keep  most  of  the  winter  store  of  vegetables. 
The  old-time  custom  was  to  stack  apples  in  the 
orchard  for  a  few  days,  the  idea  being  that 
they  needed  to  "  sweat,"  as  the  farmers  ex- 
pressed it,  before  packing;  which  was  a  blun- 
der, for,  on  the  contrary,  the  fruit  often 
heated,  and  decay  was  started  before  it  ever 
reached  its  storing  place. 

If  only  good,  sound  specimens  are  carefully 
handled — not  thrown  or  poured  from  one  re- 
ceptacle to  another,  as  is  often  done — packed 
immediately  after  gathering,  and  stored  in  as 
cool  a  place  as  can  be  found,  but,  of  course, 
free  from  frost,  they  will  keep  perfectly.  We 
have  several  times  held  over  a  few  barrels  for 
late  winter  sale,  with  no  better  place  to  store 
them  than  the  northern  corner  of  the  barn, 
which  had  been  boarded  off  for  an  office  or 
store-room  prior  to  our  tenancy.  Barrels  were 
placed  on  their  sides,  and,  as  extremely  cold 
weather  approached,  straw  was  gradually 
thrown  over  them,  and  as  late  as  March  we 
have  found  them  in  good  condition. 

142 


THE    EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

The  cellar  for  storing  fruit  must  be  well 
ventilated  and  free  from  damp,  though  a 
cement  cellar  is  apt  to  be  too  dry,  which  causes 
the  fruit  to  shrivel.  In  such  a  case  stand  a 
tub  or  couple  of  pails  of  water  in  the  cellar, 
and  do  not  fail  to  change  it  once  or  twice  a 
month.  A  dry  cellar  with  an  earthen  floor  is 
usually  about  right,  though  if  rapid  thaws 
occur  during  the  early  winter,  such  a  floor  is 
likely  to  become  very  damp ;  so  watch  for  such 
a  condition,  and  immediately  put  one  or  two 
wide,  shallow  boxes,  a  third  filled  with  un- 
slacked  lime,  into  the  cellar  which  will  absorb 
the  moisture.  Of  course  no  boxes  or  barrels 
should  ever  be  placed  directly  on  the  floor  of 
any  kind  of  cellar,  but  always  raised  about  a 
foot  on  blocks.  Long  ago  we  made  a  rack, 
a  foot  high,  of  4  X  4  scantling,  to  run  the  full 
length  of  the  cellar. 

Do  not  wait  until  fall  or  even  summer  to 
get  your  supply  of  barrels  and  boxes  to  pack 
in,  for  then  everybody  is  bothering  the  village 
store  for  "  empties."  Collect  what  you  can, 

143 


THE    EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

each  week,  throughout  the  winter.  Of  course, 
when  a  large  orchard  is  in  good  bearing  order  it 
becomes  necessary  to  buy  barrels  wholesale  and 
have  them  shipped ;  but  the  beginner,  or  people 
on  a  small  place,  who  only  want  ten  or  twenty 
barrels,  have  to  depend  on  their  groceryman. 

Pears  are  always  better  gathered  before 
quite  ripe,  even  the  summer  varieties  for  home 
consumption,  as  they  are  very  apt  to  lose  fla- 
vor, and  become  stringy  or  mealy  in  texture, 
if  left  to  fully  ripen  on  the  tree.  The  right 
condition  for  picking  can  be  gauged  by  bend- 
ing the  fruit  straight  upward.  If  the  stalk 
snaps  sharply  from  the  spur,  the  tree  can  be 
stripped;  but  if  it  breaks  off  below  the  spur, 
wait  a  day  or  two  and  try  again. 

The  summer  pears  should  be  laid  out  in  a 
dark  place  to  ripen;  or,  if  space  is  limited,  lay 
in  boxes  with  paper  between  the  layers.  Late 
varieties,  to  be  kept  for  winter  use,  should  be 
packed  in  the  same  way,  only,  of  course,  lids 
must  be  nailed  on  the  boxes,  and  they  must 
be  placed  in  the  storehouse  or  cellar. 

144 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

Peaches  and  cherries  we  have  never  tried  to 
store,  except  in  the  form  of  preserves  and 
pickles;  any  surplus  being  sold  in  baskets  at 
picking  time. 


THE  YOUNG  ORCHARD 

By  the  time  we  had  attained  the  dignity  of 
really,  truly  farmers,  the  old  orchard  had  re- 
sponded so  splendidly  to  our  eff orts  on  its  be- 
half, that  we  were  anxious  to  plant  young 
trees  and  enjoy  the  pleasures  of  shaping  and 
developing  them — of  course  feeling  sure  that, 
in  a  few  years,  the  pleasure  would  be  supple- 
mented by  a  substantial  reward.  The  plan 
was  not  elaborate;  only  5  acres  of  apples,  3 
acres  of  pears,  and  2  acres  of  peaches. 

We  .had  a  ten-acre  field  of  good  soil,  with 
just  sufficient  slope  to  the  northwest  to  make 
it  an  ideal  orchard-seat,  especially  as  the  woods 
started  about  100  feet  to  the  east,  affording 
perfect  shelter.  Subsequent  crops  had  been 
corn  and  potatoes,  so  the  ground  was  in  good 

145 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

tillage,  which  is  important,  for  setting  young 
trees  in  rough  ground  is  worse  than  useless. 
If  the  selected  place  for  the  orchard  has  not 
been  under  cultivation,  it  would  be  really  a 
saving  of  time  to  postpone  planting  for  two 
years,  especially  if  the  soil  is  clayey  or  damp; 
for,  by  subsoiling  in  the  autumn,  and  planting 
corn  in  the  spring,  rye  in  the  fall,  to  be  plowed 
under  the  following  spring,  when  it  is  pos- 
sible to  procure  them,  wood  ashes  should  be 
used  as  fertilizer  before  planting  potatoes, 
which  crop  will  bring  the  soil  into  good 
condition,  and  be  off  the  ground  in  time  for 
early  fall  planting  of  the  orchard;  or,  if 
spring  planting  is  preferred,  seed  the  ground 
with  rye,  to  again  plow  under  in  the  spring. 
Personally,  I  prefer  early  spring  planting; 
it  seems  more  natural.  Dormant  trees  must 
feel  transplanting  and  the  necessary  root  and 
top  pruning  less  than  would  trees  in  full 
sap. 

Early  in  the  winter  we  decided  on  the  varie- 
ties for  the  new  orchard:  Yellow  Transparent, 

146 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

which  ripen,  in  our  locality,  about  the  first  of 
July,  and  Sweet  Bough,  ready  for  picking  in 
August;  to  packing  for  winter,  Baldwins, 
Winesap,  and  Roxbury.  Pears:  Bartletts 
and  Winter  Niles.  Peaches:  Alexandria, 
Early  Crawford,  and  Late  Crawford. 

As  you  see,  we  chose  the  old  standard  fa- 
vorites, for  novelties  are  too  risky  for  practical 
purposes.  It  may  pay  nurserymen  to  adver- 
tise something  new  each  season,  but  often  the 
novelty  develops  some  unexpected  bad  point 
after  a  few  seasons,  and  is  dropped  from  the 
catalogue.  Even  more  frequently  varieties 
with  new  names  vary  so  slightly  from  old  fa- 
vorites that  nothing  is  gained  by  paying  the 
higher  price  which  is  asked  for  them. 

After  the  potatoes  were  removed  from  the 
field,  buckwheat  was  sown.  Early  in  the  win- 
ter the  order  was  sent  into  a  reliable  nursery 
establishment,  with  the  request  to  ship  about 
the  end  of  February,  to  insure  their  arriving 
early  in  March.  As  soon  as  weather  permitted 
the  buckwheat  was  plowed  under,  the  ground 

147 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

well  harrowed,  and  rows  marked  off  by  run- 
ning a  deep  furrow  with  a  plow,  every  32 
feet,  first  lengthwise  and  then  crosswise,  which 
opened  the  ground  effectually  at  the  points 
where  the  furrows  crossed,  and  indicated 
where  the  trees  were  to  be  placed;  though,  to 
insure  accuracy,  it  is  advisable  to  measure  the 
distance  and  plant  a  stake  to  mark  it. 

When  the  trees  arrive,  unpack  in  some  out- 
house, and,  if  all  danger  of  severe  frosts  is 
over,  get  large  tubs  or  pans,  fill  with  water, 
and  stand  the  trees  in  them,  to  soften  the 
roots;  or,  if  that  is  not  convenient,  lay  out  on 
the  floor,  and  cover  the  roots  with  wet  burlap. 
Before  planting  examine  the  roots.  Dead 
wood,  or  spindly  growth,  over  five  inches 
should  be  cut  just  below  the  first  out-branch- 
ing rootlet.  Use  a  sharp  knife,  and  make  the 
cut  from  the  under  side,  slanting  from  the 
heart  out,  so  that  the  exposed  surface  will 
come  in  contact  with  the  ground,  when  the 
tree  is  set  in  place;  for  if  the  cut  is  made  in 
such  a  manner  that  the  exposed  surface  is 

148 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

uppermost,   the  moisture   may  penetrate   and 
rot  the  entire  root. 

Having  deprived  the  tree  of  some  of  its 
feeding  rootlets,  it  will  be  unable  to  collect 
sufficient  food  to  adequately  nourish  the  top 
growth,  and  the  result  would  be  scant  foliage 
and  weak  plants,  susceptible  to  dis- 
ease; so,  to  equalize  things,  the  top 
growth  must  also  be  curtailed.  Cut 
just  below  an  eye  on  branches,  and 
don't  leave  any  branch  over  8  inches 
long. 

You  many  wonder  why  any  prun- 
ing should  be  done  at  this  time.  Well, 
primarily,  because  the  tree  cannot  be 
removed  from  its  original  growing  place  with 
all  its  roots  and  rootlets  intact.  Furthermore, 
the  trimming  back  strengthens  the  tree,  and 
stimulates  fresh,  vigorous  growth  in  its  new 
home. 

When  placing  the  tree  in  the  ground,  spread 
the  roots  out  on  the  soil  as  nearly  in  their  natu- 
ral form  as  possible.  Then  firm  the  earth  all 

149 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

round  them.  The  hole  must  be  deep  enough 
to  sink  the  tree  about  two  inches  deeper  than 
the  old  surface  mark.  It  is  well  to  allow  the 
tree  to  slant  slightly  toward  the  southwest  at 
planting  time. 

When  the  planting  is  all  finished,  the  entire 
ground,  to  within  two  or  three  feet  of  the 
trees,  can  be  utilized  for  other  crops.  Corn, 
potatoes,  and  other  vegetables  are  all  avail- 
able, but  none  of  the  grain  crops  must  be  used, 
except  under  special  conditions,  because  they 
interfere  with  cultivation.  Fruit  trees  require 
large  quantities  of  nitrogen,  which  is  best  sup- 
plied by  growing  some  of  the  leguminous 
crops,  like  Canada  field  peas,  soy  beans,  and 
clover,  alternately  with  crops  of  the  vegetable 
class,  which  should  be  followed  by  rye  or  buck- 
wheat for  winter  stands. 

If  no  vegetables  or  hoed  crops  are  grown 
in  the  orchard,  it  must  still  be  plowed  every 
spring,  and  harrowed  at  intervals,  until  mid- 
season,  or,  in  other  words,  until  the  season's 
growth  is  made.  As  with  other  crops,  con- 

150 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

slant  stirring  of  the  surface  soil,  to  a  depth  of 
two  or  three  inches,  stimulates  growth,  because 
it  liberates  the  constituents  of  the  soil  which 
constitute  plant  food.  Discontinuing  cultiva- 
tion checks  growth,  and  allows  that  already 
made  to  mature  sufficiently  to  withstand  win- 
ter frosts. 

Immediately  seeding  the  ground,  after  the 
last  cultivation  of  the  season,  with  rye  or 
buckwheat,  holds  the  soil's  fertility  by  pre- 
venting leaching,  provides  a  mulch  for  the 
winter,  and  adds  humus  to  the  soil  when 
plowed  under  the  following  spring.  H.  P. 
Gould,  assistant  pomologist  of  the  Govern- 
ment Pomological  Bureau,  explains  the  neces- 
sity of  tillage  and  cover  crops  as  follows: 

The  use  of  cover  crops  in  connection  with 
the  growing  of  fruit  is  closely  allied  to  the 
fertilizer  problem,  inasmuch  as  they  are  both 
fundamental  factors  in  soil  fertility. 

The  producing  capacity  of  the  soil  is  as 
much  dependent  upon  its  physical  or  me- 
chanical condition  as  it  is  upon  the  amount  of 

151 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

plant  food  it  may  contain.  The  chief  factor 
governing  the  physical  condition  of  the  soil 
is  the  amount  of  humus  or  decaying  vegetable 
matter  it  contains.  It  is  in  this  connection  that 
cover  crops  may  be  made  to  serve  so  impor- 
tant a  purpose. 

Cover  crops  are  of  two  classes:  Legumes, 
which  have  the  power  of  gathering  nitrogen 
from  the  air,  so  that  when  they  are  plowed 
under  and  decay,  the  soil  is  actually  richer  in 
nitrogen  than  it  was  before;  and  the  non- 
nitrogen-gathering  plants,  which,  when  they 
become  incorporated  with  the  soil,  leave  it 
little  richer  in  plant  food  than  it  was  before, 
though  the  presence  of  the  decaying  vegetable 
matter  thus  added  to  the  soil  improves  its 
physical  condition  and  makes  it  more  produc- 
tive. 

Of  the  leguminous  cover  crops,  the  various 
kinds  of  clover  are,  perhaps,  of  greatest  value, 
though  the  question  of  value  is  somewhat  de- 
pendent upon  location  and  other  conditions. 
Other  crops  of  this  class,  frequently  used  for 

152 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

the  purpose  in  question,  are  vetch,  Canada 
field  peas  and  several  others.  Rye,  buckwheat, 
rape,  and  the  like  are  the  more  common  non- 
leguminous  plants  used  for  cover  crops. 

Other  things  being  equal,  the  ideal  time  to 
sow  the  cover  crop  is  at  the  last  cultivation  of 
the  plantation  for  the  season,  allowing  it  to 
remain  upon  the  ground  until  the  first  work- 
ing of  the  soil  the  following  spring.  Various 
factors,  however,  will  influence  the  details  of 
management.  If,  in  the  judgment  of  the 
grower,  the  soil  needs  more  nitrogen,  one  of 
the  leguminous  crops  should  be  sown.  If  only 
the  maintenance  of  the  humus  is  necessary,  to- 
gether with  the  protection  of  the  soil  during 
winter,  then  one  of  the  non-leguminous  crops 
will  serve  the  purpose. 

As  a  fundamental  factor  in  progressive 
orchard  management,  systematic  tillage  is  a 
practice  of  comparatively  recent  introduction. 
While  the  practice  has  become  quite  general 
during  the  past  few  years,  and  is  growing 
more  so,  the  principles  underlying  the  opera- 

153 


tion  are  not  so  fully  understood  as  they  should 
be.  A  better  understanding  of  these  prin- 
ciples will  make  the  operation  more  effective, 
because  it  will  be  more  thorough. 

The  offices  of  tillage  are  several.     Among 
the  most  important  ones  are: 

1.  The  setting  free  of  plant  food,  by  in- 
creasing the  chemical  activities  of  the  soil. 

2.  The  soil  is  made  finer,  and  hence  pre- 
sents greater  surfaces  to  the  roots,  thus  in- 
creasing the  area  from  which  the  roots  can  ab- 
sorb nutriment. 

3.  The  surface  of  the  soil  is  kept  in  such 
condition  that  it  immediately  absorbs  all  the 
rain  that  falls  during  the  summer,  when  it  is 
apt  to  be  dry.    Little  is  lost  by  surface  drain- 
age. 

4.  Moisture  is   conserved  thereby.     Where 
the   surface   remains   undisturbed   for   weeks, 
the  soil  becomes  packed,  so  that  the  moisture 
from  below  readily  passes  to  the  surface  and 
is  evaporated,  thus  being  lost  to  the  growing 
crop.     If  the  surface  is  kept  light  and  loose 

154 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

by  tillage,  so  that  the  capillarity  is  broken,  but 
little  of  the  soil  moisture  comes  to  the  surface, 
and  evaporation  is  not  great.  In  this  way 
nearly  all  the  moisture  remains  in  the  soil, 
where  it  can  be  used  by  the  plants. 

5.  Thorough  tillage  has  a  tendency  to  cause 
deeper  rooting  of  the  plants.  The  surface  of 
the  soil  is  made  drier  by  tillage,  during  the 
early  part  of  the  season,  than  it  would  other- 
wise be;  hence  the  roots  go  where  the  soil  is 
moist.  The  advantage  of  deep  rooting  during 
drought  is  obvious. 

The  relation  of  plant  food  and  moisture  to 
the  welfare  of  crops,  and  the  influence  of  till- 
age thereon,  should,  perhaps,  receive  some  fur- 
ther attention.  Doubtless  all  farm  crops — not 
excepting  the  tree  fruits — suffer  more  from 
lack  of  moisture  than  they  do  from  lack  of 
plant  food  in  the  soil.  All  of  the  nourishment 
which  the  plant  gets  from  the  soil  is  taken  in 
solution,  and  unless  there  is  an  abundance  of 
soil  moisture  to  dissolve  the  mineral  plant 
foods,  it  is  evident  that  their  presence  in  the 

155 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

soil,  even  in  limitless  quantities,  could  avail 
nothing  for  the  good  of  the  crop.  The  ideal 
tillage,  then,  is  that  which  begins  as  early  in 
the  season  as  the  soil  can  be  worked,  while 
there  is  still  an  abundance  of  moisture  in  it 
and  continues  until  mid-season. 

The  special  conditions  under  which  grain 
crops  are  allowed  in  the  orchard  are  when  soil 
is  very  rich,  and  young  trees  are  being  forced 
into  abnormal  growth.  Then  the  grain  crop 
is  used  to  eat  the  excess  of  plant  food. 
Healthy  and  vigorous  trees,  that  have  arrived 
at  bearing  age,  yet  show  no  indication  of 
fruiting,  can  sometimes  be  awakened  to  their 
duty  by  this  means.  At  others,  root  pruning 
has  to  be  resorted  to.  This  consists  in  dig- 
ging a  circular  trench,  from  3  to  6  feet  from 
the  tree  stem,  to  a  depth  of  from  2  to  4  feet, 
and  cutting  all  the  roots  that  are  encountered. 
As  soon  as  the  entire  circle  is  accomplished 
round  the  tree,  replace  the  earth,  being  care- 
ful to  firm  the  soil  round  the  roots.  If  this 
process  is  accomplished  late  in  July,  or  early 

156 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

in  August,  it  will  promote  the  formation  of 
fruit  buds  for  the  next  season. 

Every  season  after  planting  judicious 
pruning  of  top  growth  is  necessary,  for  sev- 
eral reasons,  the  principal  of  which  are  equal 
distribution  of  weight,  symmetrical  form,  best 
adapted  to  fruit  bearing  and  ripening,  and  the 
curtailing  of  rampant  growth,  which  is  detri- 
mental to  fruit  production.  The  young  tree  is 
prone  to  throw  sprouts  from  the  main  stem 
at  the  same  height,  but  on  opposite  sides.  This 
seems  of  no  importance  to  the  uninitiated  until 
years  afterward,  when  the  sprouts  have  devel- 
oped into  heavy  main  branches.  Then  the 
most  ignorant  person  can  realize  the  danger 
of  the  trunk  of  the  tree  being  split  in  half  by 
the  drag  of  the  branches. 

Amputating  large  limbs  is  a  drain  on  the 
tree's  vitality,  which  usually  retards  its  fruit- 
fulness  for  several  seasons;  therefore,  the  for- 
mation of  the  young  tree  must  be  most  care- 
fully watched  and  controlled.  The  first  branch 
should  start  from  the  main  stalk,  about  3  feet 

157 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

above  the  ground;  the  next  branch  several 
inches  higher,  and  a  little  further  round  the 
stalk,  to  the  right  or  left,  but  not  directly  op- 
posite; and  so  with  all  three  or  four  main 
branches.  Let  each  be  a  little  higher,  and  at 
a  slight  angle  to  the  one  preceding  it.  Then, 
as  the  tree  grows,  the  weight  will  be  evenly  dis- 
tributed. The  main  stalk  should  also  be  cut 
back  several  inches  each  season.  Cuts  in  prun- 
ing should  always  be  made  immediately  above 
a  bud;  otherwise,  the  branch  will  die  back  to 
that  point,  and  dead  wood  will  attract  the  fun- 
goids  of  decay. 

The  most  important  reason  for  pruning  reg- 
ularly is  that  fruit  trees  throw  buds  one  season 
and  develop  the  following,  and  fruit  is  only 
borne  on  one  or  two-year-old  wood;  there- 
fore, if  trees  are  neglected  for  two  or  three 
years,  they  will  bear  all  their  fruit  at  the 
extreme  ends  of  spindly  branches,  where  R 
cannot  be  fully  nourished;  and  rectifying 
the  neglect  means  destroying  the  next  year's 
buds. 

158 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

If  indiscreet  pruning  has  been  practised  in 
the  past,  large  limbs  may  have  to  be  removed 
in  old  orchards,  in  which  event  cut  close  to  the 
trunk  or  main  limb,  from  which  one  is  to  be 
severed.  Saw  from  the  under  side  upward, 
about  a  third  through  the  branch;  then  start 
again  from  the  top, 
about  an  inch  further 
down  the  branch.  Then, 
when  the  weight  of  the 
branch  bears  it  down  as 
you  cut,  the  first  cut  will 
prevent  the  bark  of  the 
remaining  limb  from  be- 
ing torn.  After  the 
branch  is  down,  trim  the 
jagged  stump  level,  and 
cover  the  wound  with  tar  or  white-lead  paint,  to 
keep  out  all  foreign  matter  until  it  heals.  Leav- 
ing short  stumps,  where  branches  are  cut  off,  is 
the  cause  of  trees  becoming  hollow.  Rot  starts 
in  the  exposed  portions,  and  travels  through  to 
the  heart  of  the  tree.  Whenever  any  part  of 

159 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

the  bark  of  a  tree  gets  injured,  at  once  apply 
tar  or  paint. 

Stalks  of  young  trees  should  be  wrapped 
with  burlap,  paper,  or  old  rags,  to  prevent 
rabbits  or  mice  gnawing  the  bark  in  the  winter. 

One  of  the  advantages  of  starting  and  de- 
veloping your  own  orchard  is  being  able  to 
prevent  diseases  and  parasites  becoming  estab- 
lished before  you  have  a  chance  to  fight  them. 
If  preventatives  are  consciously  used  from  the 
beginning,  there  will  be  little  trouble  in  fight- 
ing an  epidemic,  should  one  assail  the  orchard. 
The  two  most  useful  mixtures  for  fighting  or- 
chard enemies  were  vaguely  referred  to  when 
relating  the  methods  used  to  rejuvenate  the  old 
trees,  but  the  worker  in  a  new  orchard,  if  truly 
interested,  should  know  at  least  the  name  and 
appearance  of  a  few  of  the  most  prevalent 
troubles. 

The  San  Jose  scale,  which  has  been  the  great 
scathe  of  recent  years,  is  indicated  by  a  white, 
scaley  substance  on  old  wood,  and  reddy-brown 
spots  on  young  wood.  Canker  is  also  a  fun- 

160 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

gus  disease.  It  gains  access  to  the  tree  through 
a  wound.  As  it  spreads,  the  bark  is  liable  to 
crack  completely  round  a  limb,  especially  on 
young  trees.  The  coddling  moth  is  about  half 
an  inch  across  the  wings,  flies  at  twilight  and 
night,  lays  its  eggs  on  the  surface  of  the  apple, 
in  the  calyx,  and  on  the  leaves;  and  when  they 
hatch,  the  minute  caterpillar  eats  its  way  into 
the  apple,  burrows  rownd  the  core  while  grow- 
ing to  its  full  size  of  three-quarters  of  an  inch, 
when  it  eats  its  way  through  some  portion  of 
the  fruit.  There  are  usually  two  broods  each 
season,  the  second  brood  wintering  in  the  fruit. 
That  is  one  of  the  reasons  why  the  droppings 
should  be  removed,  instead  of  being  allowed  to 
rot  on  the  ground.  The  curculio  is  a  small 
beetle  which  bores  into  the  fruit  to  eat,  and 
often  lays  its  eggs,  which  hatch,  and  work  to 
the  core.  The  apple  maggot  is  a  small  black 
fly  that  also  bores  and  lays  eggs  that  hatch  and 
devour  pulp  just  beneath  the  skin  of  the  fruit. 
There  are  many  more  destructive  larvae  and 
fungus  diseases  to  combat,  but  as  the  same 

161 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

preventatives  and  care  affect  them  all,  it  will 
only  be  necessary  to  give  the  recipes  for  the 
different  spraying  mixtures. 

The  lime-sulphur-salt  mixture  for  the  San 
Jose  scale  and  sucking  insects,  to  be  used  in 
winter  or  very  early  spring,  is  made  by  slack- 
ing 12  pounds  of  stone  lime  with  boiling 
water,  in  which  10  pounds  of  flower  of  sul- 
phur has  been  mixed.  We  put  the  sulphur 
into  a  large  pail,  mix  it  into  a  paste  by  grad- 
ually adding  water,  until  it  is  of  a  creamy 
consistency,  and  immediately  add  it  to  the 
lime.  Altogether,  30  gallons  of  boiling  water 
are  to  be  used.  Some  people  say  the  salt  is 
of  no  curative  value;  others  say  it  is;  and 
most  decidedly  it  helps  the  other  ingredients 
to  amalgamate,  so  we  always  put  it  into  the 
barrel  with  the  lime.  The  mixture  must  boil 
for  two  hours  and  be  kept  hot  until  used,  or 
it  will  clog  the  nozzle  of  the  spraying  machine. 

Bordeaux  mixture  for  fungoids,  to  be  used 
before  or  after  blossoming  time,  can  be  bought 
ready  mixed,  and  will  save  trouble  when  only 

162 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

a  small  orchard  has  to  be  treated.  If  you  wish 
to  make  it,  the  ingredients  are:  Five  pounds 
copper  sulphate  or  blue  vitriol,  5  pounds  of 
quick  lime,  50  gallons  of  water.  Tie  the  cop- 


KNAPSACK  SPRAYER. 

per  sulphate  in  cheese-cloth,  and  suspend  in  a 
pail  of  water  to  dissolve.  Make  a  paste  by 
slacking  the  lime  with  water,  strain,  place  the 
lime  paste  in  a  narrow,  deep  vessel,  add  the 
copper  sulphate,  and  churn  until  thoroughly 
mixed.  Then  add  the  full  quantity  of  water. 

163 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

Kerosene  emulsion  is  simple,  and  very  use- 
ful for  trees,  vegetables  and  flowers.  Put  a 
gallon  of  sour  milk  and  two  gallons  of  kero- 
sene into  a  vessel,  and  churn  until  a  creamy 
emulsion  is  made. 


BARREL  SPRAYER. 

Whitewash,  to  which  kerosene  and  salt  have 
been  added,  makes  the  trunks  of  trees  look 
clean  and  tidy,  and  helps  to  keep  borers  away. 

For  garden  or  a  few  fruit  trees,  a  knapsack 
spraying  outfit  can  be  used,  and  only  costs 
about  $10;  but  to  do  really  good,  quick  work 

164 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

in  an  orchard,  it  is  economy  to  purchase  the 
barrel  machine,  which  has  a  strong  agitator  to 
prevent  the  ingredients  settling,  and  a  pump 
to  force  the  mixture  through  long  pipes,  ca- 
pable of  reaching  the  center  of  large  trees. 
The  apparatus,  mounted  on  wheels,  costs  about 
$25. 

Always  remember  that  spraying  is  of  little 
avail  unless  done  thoroughly,  for  one  affected 
spot  that  escapes  the  spray  will  contaminate 
whole  trees  within  a  short  time. 

The  same  general  care  and  treatment  applies 
to  pears  and  peaches,  the  only  difference  being 
in  planting.  Pears  should  be  20  feet  apart; 
peaches  14  feet  apart. 


165 


CHAPTER   SEVEN 

DAIRY  AND   YOUNG   CATTLE 

IT  is  humiliating  to  own  that  accident  and 
natural  evolution  have  had  more  to  do  with 
our  success  than  perspicacity  or  logical  rea- 
soning, but  it  is  evidently  true,  for,  in  con- 
ning over  events,  it  becomes  apparent  that 
branch  after  branch  of  husbandry  has  been 
developed  without  any  premeditated  plans. 

Originally,  we  bought  Rachel  because  a 
country  home  without  a  cow  is  incomplete. 
Then,  when  Daisy  arrived,  she  was  such  a  dear 
little  calf  we  could  not  let  the  butcher  have 
her.  When  she  came  to  milking  age,  being 
a  pure  Jersey  like  her  mother,  cream  pre- 
dominated, and  we  had  a  superabundance  of 
butter.  Two  private  egg  customers  were  of- 
fered a  few  pounds  each  week,  at  forty 

166 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

cents  a  pound,  and  instantly  accepted.  Sub- 
sequently others  asked  if  we  could  not  supply 
them,  and  then  another  cow  was  bought,  and 
then  another,  until  eventually  a  dairy  herd 
was  established. 

When  milk  from  even  the  three  cows  had 
to  be  set  for  creaming,  the  inadequacy  of 
pans  became  apparent;  so  a  cream  separator 
was  purchased,  which,  of  course,  gave  us  more 
fresh  skim  milk  than  we  could  possibly  use  for 
the  poultry,  and  we  concluded  to  buy  one  or 
two  calves — an  easy  matter  in  our  vicinity,  for 
nearly  every  farm  keeps  cows,  and  sells  the 
milk  wholesale  to  a  man,  who  collects  for  a 
firm  which  runs  restaurants  in  the  city.  There- 
fore calves  are  at  a  discount,  and  are  either 
sold  at  fifty  cents  apiece,  as  soon  as  born,  or 
killed.  Mrs.  Fred  loves  all  young  things,  but 
calves  especially;  and  her  second  girl,  Edith, 
then  about  twelve  years  old,  resembled  her 
mother  in  this  respect.  So  they  aided  and 
abetted  the  new  venture. 

It  is  surprising  how  little  difference  a  few 
167 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

young  cattle  seem  to  make  on  a  fairly  large 
farm,  and  how  soon  they  reach  the  market- 
able age.  Calves  which  cost  fifty  cents,  and 
perhaps  another  two  dollars  for  feed,  and  can 
be  sold  for  at  least  seven  dollars,  and  fre- 
quently eleven,  within  seven  weeks,  are  ob- 
viously profitable.  Then  it  seemed  a  pity  to 
kill  off  well-bred  heifers,  and  a  few  were  kept 
for  two  years,  at  an  approximate  cost  of  $22, 
and  sold  at  an  average  of  $50  each  after  their 
first  calf. 

Hardy  males  are  kept  from  two  to  three 
years,  and  sold  for  prime  or,  as  it  is  fre- 
quently called,  baby  beef,  bringing,  on  an 
average,  $90.  Our  estimate  for  feed  con- 
sumed, and  care,  is  $40,  which  leaves  a  clear 
profit  of  $50.  I  think  this  proves  that  a  but- 
ter trade,  supplemented  by  young  stock  rais- 
ing, is  bound  to  be  profitable;  especially  as  the 
estimates  quoted  leave  an  ample  margin  for 
decrease  in  feed  and  increase  on  sales.  Be- 
sides which,  feed  of  calves,  so  long  as  it  con- 
sists of  milk,  costs  us  nothing,  as  the  butter 

168 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

produced  by  the  cows  pays  all  the  expenses, 
and  leaves  a  surplus  of  $60  a  year. 

Moreover,  the  manure  has  not  been  consid- 
ered, and,  as  you  know,  it  is  estimated  by  ex- 
perts as  worth  about  $20  per  head  for  milk 
cows  and  stock  ranging  from  nine  months  to 
two  years  old.  Without  doubt,  dairy  and 
young  cattle  are  lucrative,  and  splendidly 

* 

helpful  in  the  work  of  renovating  an  old, 
worn-out  farm,  which  is  usually  the  only  class 
available  to  people  of  moderate  means. 

The  mere  mechanical  action  of  milking  can 
be  learned  in  a  few  days  by  man  or  wroman; 
and  from  the  first  day  the  first  cow  is  bought, 
household  expenses  are  so  materially  reduced, 
that  even  a  disheartened  amateur,  with  pes- 
simistic tendencies,  will  feel  assured  of  ulti- 
mate success,  as  every  meal  will  demonstrate 
the  fact  that  the  home  is  becoming  self-sup- 
porting. 

Of  course,  keeping  cows  just  as  milk  pro- 
ducers is  profitable,  and  may  be  more  success- 
ful for  people  who  have  no  affinity  for  baby 

169 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

animals;  but  it  seems  to  me  that  selling  milk 
at  wholesale  prices  of  2^2  to  3l/2  cents  a  quart, 
is  hardly  worth  while.  Buying  or  establishing 
a  milk  route  necessitates  a  large  capital  for 
good  will,  stock,  carts  and  horses  for  delivery, 
and  much  help  of  a  class  which  it  is  difficult 
to  procure  and  manage.  In  fact,  it  is  the 
class  of  dairying  which  preeminently  belongs 
to  the  native  farmer,  with  unlimited  strength 
and  an  aptitude  for  business.  Such  men  are 
usually  firmly  established  in  every  neighbor- 
hood, long  before  the  amateur's  invasion. 

Really  first-class  home-made  butter  is  a  rare 
luxury,  demanding  a  special  standard  price 
the  year  round,  irrespective  of  market  fluc- 
tuations. If  there  are  only  one  or  two  pounds 
to  spare  at  first,  the  business  can  be  started, 
and  customers  corralled  even  before  the  second 
cow  is  bought.  The  young  cattle  are  almost  a 
necessary  adjunct  to  prevent  waste. 

For  the  family,  and  where  butter  is  to  be 
the  ultimate  dairy  specialty,  Jerseys  and 
Guernseys  are  the  best  breeds,  because  their 

170 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

milk  is  the  richest  in  butter  fats.  Holsteins 
are  essentially  the  milkman's  cows,  their  yield 
being  stronger  in  quantity  than  in  quality. 

Rachel  was  of  high  degree,  with  a  long  line 
of  prize  ancestors,  and  her  becoming  my  prop- 
erty was  the  first  act  that  showed  our  land- 
lord's kindly  feeling  and  good-naturedness, 
for  she  would  have  brought  much  more  than 
the  $75  we  gave  for  her;  but  she  had  been  a 
pet,  and  there  was  a  desire  to  keep  her  within 
visiting  distance,  and  help  us  to  a  dear,  gentle 
creature,  who  would  be  patient  with  my  inex- 
perience. 

Naturally,  having  started  with  a  thorough- 
bred, every  effort  was  made  to  maintain  the 
standard.  The  next  cow  to  be  bought  was  a 
sister  of  Rachel's.  Then  a  little  later,  when 
two  more  were  wanted,  we  had  to  get  them 
from  a  farmer  with  mixed  stock;  but  we  were 
able  to  pick  two  in  which  Jersey  blood  pre- 
dominated. The  same  selection  was  observed 
with  all  subsequent  additions  to  the  herd,  and, 
having  the  privilege  of  breeding  all  such  cows 

171 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

to  Mr.  E.'s  bull  for  a  fee  of  $5— on  the 
understanding,  of  course,  that  the  father's 
pedigree  should  not  be  attached  to  any  of  the 
progeny — all  the  heifer  calves  we  raised  were 
an  improvement  on  their  mothers,  and  what 
are  called,  technically,  "  high  grade  "  animals. 

Rachel,  Hester,  and  Daisy's  calves  were, 
of  course,  thoroughbred,  and  entitled  to  all 
the  honors  which  their  parentage  bestowed; 
though  I  must  own  that  many  of  their  ple- 
beian half-sisters  were  worthy  of  quite  as 
much  personal  respect  as  utility  cows. 

Points  to  be  considered,  when  selecting  a 
dairy  cow,  are  family  record  as  milk  pro- 
ducers, and  her  own  ability  in  the  same  line. 
The  greatest  advantage  the  practical  farmer 
gains  from  buying  thoroughbred  stock  is  the 
fact  that  breeders  of  such  animals  keep  rec- 
ords, and  the  man  who  has  only  grades  rarely, 
if  ever,  knows  much  about  respective  values, 
beyond  the  fact  that  one  cow  gives  more  milk 
than  another.  It  has  been  conclusively  proven 
that  not  one-third  of  the  cows  in  the  average 

172 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

dairy  herd  return  a  profit,  and,  therefore, 
would  be  banished  if  the  owner  were  not  so 
careless  in  the  matter  of  testing  and  measur- 
ing individual  yields.  It  is  quite  common  to 
hear  a  man,  with  a  young  cow  for  sale,  say 
that  her  mother  was  a  fine  milker,  or  that  she 
promises  to  be  as  good  as  her  mother;  but  he 
seems  to  forget  that  she  owns  a  father,  and 
that  more  than  half  of  her  good  or  bad  quali- 
ties are  transmitted'  from  the  paternal  side. 
It  is  as  important  to  know  what  kind  of  a 
milker  the  father's  mother  was. 

In  this  country  many  people  used  to  laugh 
at  pedigree,  and  considered  thoroughbred  ani- 
mals no  better  than  others;  but  during  the 
last  ten  or  fifteen  years  there  has  been  a  grad- 
ual change,  as  the  results  of  breeding  care- 
fully selected  animals  have  been  demonstrated. 
Probably  the  early  scepticism  had  some  ex- 
cuse, for  rash  enthusiasm  prompted  many 
people  to  import  animals  with  pedigrees,  with- 
out any  investigation  of  the  owner's  creden- 
tials, and  there  are  rogues  in  all  callings. 

173 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

Furthermore,  "  prize  winners "  and  "  thor- 
oughbreds "  were  looked  upon  as  synonymous 
terms,  which  they  seldom  are,  when  considered 
from  the  practical  standpoint. 

For  show  specimens,  the  most  symmetrical, 
showy  animals,  or  birds,  are  chosen,  regard- 
less of  constitutional  strength  or  productive- 
ness. Then,  when  such  specimens  are  the  first 
to  be  brought  into  a  neighborhood,  there  is 
often  ground  for  complaint.  Agricultural 
shows  are  of  great  value,  for  they  are  object 
lessons  that  teach  correct  type,  and  awaken 
competition  among  farmers.  The  man  or 
woman  who  becomes  interested  in  capturing 
blue  ribbons  will  study  how  to  grow  the  most 
correctly  formed  animals,  and,  in  so  doing,  is 
sure  to  discover  the  principles  of  selection 
and  mating,  to  improve  practical  points. 
Don't  misunderstand  me — all  show  animals 
are  not  without  practical  value;  but  naturally, 
beauty  comes  first.  One  thing  is  sure — the 
exhibitor,  if  also  the  breeder,  will  have  good, 
thoroughbred  stock  for  sale,  and  will  have 

174 


THE    EARTH'S   BOUNTY, 

been  in  the  habit  of  keeping  market  and 
butter  records,  so  that  he  can  show  the  busi- 
ness qualities,  as  well  as  the  pedigrees,  of  his 
animals. 

To  intelligently  use  any  of  the  tests  for 
estimating  a  cow's  butter  value,  some  knowl- 
edge of  the  constituents  of  milk  is  necessary. 
Professor  Pearson  describes  milk  as  a  whitish, 
opaque  liquid.  To  the  ordinary  observer  it 
appears  to  be  a  perfect  solution,  and  is  com- 
monly regarded  as  such,  being  bought  arid 
sold  by  liquid  measure;  but,  when  placed 
under  the  microscope,  it  is  seen  to  consist  of 
a  clear,  transparent  fluid,  containing  many 
minute  globules  of  various  sizes.  The  fluid 
part,  called  the  milk  serum,  consists  of  water, 
and  all  the  other  constituents  of  milk,  except 
the  fat;  and  these  other  constituents,  although 
solids,  when  separated  and  dry,  are  mostly  all 
dissolved  in  the  water,  but  part  of  them  is  in 
a  state  of  fine  suspension  or  partial  solution. 
The  globules  are  little  bodies  of  pure  fat  scat- 
tered through  the  serum  and  not  dissolved. 

175 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

They  are  semi-solid,  and  form,  with  the  serum, 
a  mixture  called  an  emulsion. 

The  solid  constituents  present  in  the  serum 
in  largest  quantities  are  sugar  and  casein.  Al- 
bumen and  mineral  matter  are  present  in  small 
quantity,  and  there  is  also  believed  to  be  a 
little  fibrin,  resembling  the  fibrin  of  blood.  In 
milk  there  is  more  sugar  than  any  other  solid 
component.  The  milk  sugar  can  be  separated 
from  the  solution,  and  brought  into  a  solid 
form;  as  sold,  it  resembles  powdered  white 
sugar.  It  is  used,  to  a  considerable  extent,  by 
druggists;  also  by  manufacturers  of  certain 
proprietary  foods,  especially  those  for  infants. 

Sugar  is  the  constituent  of  milk  which  un- 
dergoes the  greatest  change  when  milk  sours. 
Casein  and  albumen  of  milk  are  the  chief 
nitrogenous  constituents,  and  are  generally 
referred  to  as  including  all  of  this  class  of 
substances  in  milk.  They  belong  to  the  gen- 
eral class  of  foods  which  includes  the  lean 
meats  and  white  of  egg.  Acid,  or  rennet, 
causes  casein  to  coagulate,  forming  curd,  and, 

176 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

as  such,  it  is  one  of  the  chief  ingredients  of 
cheese,  constituting  about  one-fourth  of  that 
important  food.  The  albumen  may  be  co- 
agulated by  heat.  The  mineral  matter  in 
milk,  called  ash  or  salts,  is  the  part  that  re- 
mains when  milk  is  evaporated  to  dryness  and 
burned.  This  consists  chiefly  of  phosphates 
and  chlorides  of  soda,  potash,  and  lime. 

It  is  well  known  that  when  suga-r  is  dis- 
solved in  water,  the  solution  is  less  limpid 
than  pure  water,  and  if  many  small  bodies, 
a  very  little  lighter  than  water,  were  thor- 
oughly mixed  into  the  solution,  their  rise 
would  be  more  or  less  retarded  by  the  sticki- 
ness of  the  surrounding  fluid.  Milk  might 
be  compared  to  a  thin  sirup,  with  many  fatty 
and  light  particles  floating  in  it,  as  just  de- 
scribed. It  is  viscous,  or  sticky,  because  of 
the  solids  held  in  solution  and  suspension;  and 
this  viscosity,  together  with  fibrin,  has  a  con- 
siderable effect  in  retarding  the  rise  of  the  fat 
globules  and  the  formation  of  the  cream  layer. 
The  older  milk  is,  the  more  effective  are  these 

177 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

forces.  The  fat  globules  are  so  small  that 
one  drop  contains  many  millions  of  them.  It 
is  said  that  if  a  person  should  attempt  to 
count  the  globules  in  a  drop  of  milk,  it  would 
take  ten  years  of  his  time,  provided  he  counted 
at  the  rate  of  100  per  minute,  and  worked  ten 
hours  per  day,  six  days  every  week.  Such  a 
number  is  too  large  to  be  appreciated.  The 
globules  average  about  one  ten-thousandth 
of  an  inch  in  diameter,  and  twenty-five  of  the 
average  size,  placed  side  by  side,  would  about 
represent  the  thickness  of  ordinary  writing 
paper.  Globules  of  different  sizes  are  found 
in  the  milk  of  any  cow,  but,  with  certain 
breeds,  the  sizes  average  larger  than  with  other 
breeds.  The  milk  of  Jersey  and  Guernsey 
cows  has  this  peculiarity,  which  explains  why 
the  cream  rises  so  readily  on  it — large  glob- 
ules naturally  being  able  to  get  to  the  top 
more  quickly  than  small  ones,  many  of  which 
cannot  rise  at  all. 

One  hundred  pounds  of  average  milk  con- 
tains about  the  following  amounts  of  the  dif- 

178 


THE    EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

ferent  constituents:  87  pounds  of  water,  4 
pounds  of  fat,  5  pounds  of  milk  sugar,  3.3 
pounds  of  casein  and  albumen,  and  0.7  pound 
of  mineral  matter  or  salts. 

But  the  quantities  of  the  constituents  vary  5 
between  wide  limits.  The  total  solids  of  milk, 
meaning  all  the  constituents  except  water, 
may  be  as  low  as  10,  or  as  high  as  18  parts  in 
100.  This  variation  is  due  to  several  causes. 
The  fat  varies  in  quantity  more  than  any  other 
part  of  the  milk,  running  as  low  as  about  2^4 
parts  in  100,  and  as  high  as  8;  the  larger  the 
proportion  of  fat,  the  richer  the  milk  is  said 
to  be.  Most  of  the  States,  and  many  cities, 
have  a  legal  standard  for  the  composition  of 
milk,  and  any  milk  falling  below  this  stand- 
ard is  legally  regarded  as  adulterated,  al- 
though it  may  be,  in  fact,  the  natural  prod- 
uct. The  laws  usually  require  3,  or  3Vz  per 
cent,  of  fat,  9,  or  O1/^  per  cent,  of  "  solids  not 
fat."  (This  term  is  commonly  used  to  desig- 
nate all  the  solid  substances  of  milk  other 
than  fat.)  The  total  solids  required  thus 

179 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

vary  from  12  to  13  per  cent.,  according  to 
different  laws;  which  means,  of  course,  that 
in  every  100  pounds  of  milk  there  shall  be  12 
or  13  pounds  of  solid  matter.  These  legal 
requirements  are  justified  by  the  fact  that  it 
is  the  solid  matter,  and  not  the  water,  which 
gives  value  to  milk. 

The  fact  that  the  standard  so  often  relates 
to  the  proportion,  or  percentage,  of  fat,  and 
the  popular  impression  that  the  milk  is  with- 
out value  after  the  cream  has  been  removed, 
lead  some  people  to  think  that  fat  is  the  only 
valuable  part  of  milk.  This  is  a  great  error. 
The  several  other  constituents  are  valuable; 
for  example,  casein  is  one  of  the  cheapest 
forms  of  nitrogenous  food,  and  is  more  nu- 
tritious than  similar  compounds  in  many  other 
, foods,  It  is,  of  course,  safe  to  judge  of  the 
quality  and  value  of  milk  by  the  fat  it  con- 
tains, because,  if  milk  is  poor,  from  either 
natural  or  unnatural  causes,  the  quantity  of 
fat  will  be  affected  at  least  as  much,  and 
oftentimes  more,  than  any  other  constituent. 

180 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

The  Babcock  test  for  butter  fat  is  simple, 
accurate,  and  costs  very  little.  We  bought 
what,  I  think,  was  the  smallest  outfit  for  $6, 
and  it  consists  of  four  bottles,  one  pipette 
for  measuring  the  milk,  another  measure  for 
the  sulphuric  acid,  and  the  machine  itself. 
The  operation  is  simply  to  fill  the  pipette  up 
to  the  line  indicating  the  required  quantity 
—18  grams,  pour  it  into  the  test  bottle,  meas- 
ure the  sulphuric  acid,  add  to  the  milk,  shake 
until  it  turns  dark.  Then  fit  the  bottle  into 
the  machine,  neck  toward  the  center.  Use  a 
separate  bottle  for  the  milk  from  each  cow. 
When  all  are  in  place,  the  handle  of  the  ma- 
chine has  only  to  be  turned  rapidly,  and  the 
joint  action  of  the  acid  and  the  centrifugal 
force  drives  the  heavier  constituents  to  the 
bottom,  and  the  fat  particles,  which  are  the 
lighter,  into  the  neck,  where  the  exact  amount 
is  indicated  by  the  scale  on  the  bottle. 

When  a  new  cow  is  bought,  or  when  one  of 
our  own  raising  comes  into  milking,  we  use 
the  test  night  and  morning,  for  one  week,  in 

181 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

each  of  the  first  three  months.  The  accepted 
calculation,  by  which  the  amount  of  butter 
can  be  estimated,  is  to  add  one-sixth  to  the 
amount  of  fat  registered  on  the  bottle.  The 
daily  test  is  tried  again  during  the  eighth 
month,  with  a  young  cow;  after  cows  have 
established  records,  twice  in  every  month. 
Weighing,  testing,  and  booking  amounts  ab- 
sorbs very  little  time,  and  gives  such  a  clear 
proof  of  the  animals'  respective  values  that 
no  one  can  possibly  grudge  it.  If  small 
farmers  would  only  observe  a  rigid  super- 
vision of  returns,  they  would  be  surprised  to 
find  the  difference  in  profits;  for,  of  course, 
no  one  wishes  to  keep  animals  who  do  not  give 
a  fair  financial  return  for  feed  and  care. 

STABLING   COWS 

Even  when  only  one  cow  is  to  be  kept,  she 
must  have  a  sanitary  stable;  otherwise  the 
health  of  the  entire  family  is  endangered. 
Cush  needs  at  least  900  cubic  feet  of  air 

182    ' 


space,  and  a  comfortable  stall  of  from 
to  4  feet  deep.  Stanchions  we  have  never 
used,  because  they  seemed  cruel  to  me.  The 
cows  are  just  hitched  by  a  chain.  Many  peo- 
ple declare  that  a  cow  will  break  her  legs  or 
get  fast  in  some  way,  which  is  quite  possible, 
if  the  poor  animal  has  slept  in  a  pillory  all 
the  nights  of  her  life;  but  by  allowing  only  a 
short  tether  at  first,  and  gradually  increas- 
ing it,  she  will  learn  how  to  manage  what  al- 
lows her  the  luxury  of  a  natural  position  dur- 
ing the  night. 

Concrete  floors,  well  drained,  and  heavily 
covered  with  good  straw,  are  the  best  beds; 
and,  so  long  as  there  are  plenty  of  windows 
to  admit  light,  sun,  and  air  during  the  day, 
when  all  the  litter  is  removed,  quite  sanitary. 
The  regular,  stiff  stable  broom  should  be  used 
to  brush  out  the  floors;  and,  when  weather 
permits,  turn  on  the  hose  and  swab  out  once 
a  week.  The  walls  and  ceiling,  if  of  wood, 
should  be  whitewashed  two  or  three  times  a 
year.  The  new,  thoroughly  well  equipped 

183 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

cow  barns  are  delights,  with  their  porcelain 
tiled  floors  and  fittings;  but  I  doubt  if  any 
but  the  large  estate  will  ever  be  able  to  afford 
them.  And,  fortunately  for  us  practical 
folks,  healthful  quarters  depend  more  on 
light,  air,  and  rigid  cleanliness  than  appear- 
ances. 

FEEDING 

When  we  had  only  Rachel  and  Daisy  we 
fed  chopped  hay,  well  steamed  and  mixed, 
with  ground  feed  (corn  and  oats),  and  wheat 
bran;  for  fodder,  corn  stalks  and  hay,  in  the 
winter,  and  pasture  in  the  summer.  Increase 
of  farming  operations  and  the  silo  gradually 
changed  our  ideas. 

Now  milk  cows  have  mash,  ensillage,  and 
hay,  from  November  to  April;  mash  and  pas- 
ture, supplemented  by  soiling,  from  April  to 
November.  The  ground  feed  and  wheat  bran 
are  mixed,  and  three  quarts  used  night  and 
morning,  for  mash,  to  which  one  tablespoon- 
ful  of  salt  is  added.  Once  a  week,  roots — 

184 


CREAM  SEPARATOR 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

carrots  or  mangel-wurzels  as  a  treat.  In 
April  mash  is  gradually  reduced,  until  about 
the  middle  of  May,  when  it  is  entirely  elimi- 
nated from  the  rations. 

The  estimated  quantity  of  green  forage 
necessary  for  each  animal,  when  the  silo  sys- 
tem, alone,  is  adopted,  is  110  pounds  for  every 
1,000  pounds  of  animal.  As  you  know  from 
the  chapter  on  crops,  we  sow  Canada  field 
peas,  soy  beans,  millet,  rye,  and  clover,  as 
much  to  use  for  soiling  as  for  the  silo  or  hay; 
so  that  there  is  a  constant  succession  of  crops 
from  April  to  November,  on  which  the  milk 
cows  are  fed  almost  exclusively,  as  they  are 
only  allowed  the  range  of  summer  pasture  for 
exercise,  and  the  spring  brook,  in  which  they 
delight  to  stand,  knee  deep,  on  hot  days. 

MANAGEMENT   OF   THE   COWS 

During  the  last  two  weeks  in  March  the 
cow  barn  is  opened  five  minutes  earlier  every 
morning,  until  the  time  is  changed  from  six 

185 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

to  five  o'clock.  Each  cow  is  given  her  mash 
in  turn;  and  then,  commencing  with  the  first 
fed,  each  has  her  burlap  blanket  taken  off, 
her  udder  wiped  with  a  damp  cloth  and  then 
a  dry  one,  and  is  milked.  The  feeding,  Sid- 
ney does.  After  that  he  washes  his  hands, 
and  slips  on  a  long  linen  coat,  which  buttons 
at  wrists,  and  straight  down  the  back,  like  an 
old-fashioned  smock,  entirely  enveloping  his 
clothing.  The  stable  man  strips  and  wipes 
the  cows  off,  so  that  Sidney's  hands  are  not 
brought  into  contact  with  any  defiling  in- 
fluences before  milking. 

We  have  two  or  three  milk  pails  in  use,  and, 
as  soon  as  he  has  drawn  a  cow's  milk,  the  pail 
is  taken  to  the  spring  house,  weighed,  and  im- 
mediately strained. 

The  milking  over,  each  cow  is  given  her 
allowance  of  fodder,  and  left  in  peace  for 
about  half  an  hour,  whilst  the  men  are  feed- 
ing other  animals.  Then  they  are  turned  out 
into  the  pasture,  the  stalls  cleaned,  and  left 
wide  open,  to  air,  all  day. 

186 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

Green  fodder  is  put  into  a  rack,  stationed 
at  the  end  of  the  pasture.  At  four  o'clock, 
until  the  end  of  May,  then  at  five  o'clock, 
they  are  brought  up,  and  given  mash  or  fod- 
der, milked,  and  left  for  the  night  with  full 
racks  of  hay. 

In  October  the  morning  hour  is  again 
slipped  around  to  six  o'clock,  and  the  daily 
exercise  is  limited  to  the  covered  yard,  until 
about  9  A.M.  Noon  feed  is  gradually  changed 
to  ensilage,  the  rack  being  moved  from  the 
pasture  to  the  yard,  which  makes  the  cows 
anxious  to  go  up  when  the  gate  is  opened. 
As  the  days  shorten,  they  are  stabled  earlier 
at  night,  but,  having  a  covered  yard,  even  in 
the  most  inclement  weather  they  can  be  out 
whilst  cleaning  and  airing  is  being  done  in 
the  stalls,  and  yet  be  sheltered. 

The  spring  brook  furnishes  an  unlimited 
supply  of  pure,  clear  drinking  water  in  the 
pasture  in  the  summer.  During  the  early 
winter  water  is  piped  to  a  trough  in  the  yard, 
which  is  kept  clean,  and  free  from  all  mossy 

187 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

growth.  After  severe  frost  sets  in  water  is 
carried  by  the  pailful  to  each  cow  three  times 
a  day,  for  plenty  of  pure  drinking  water,  at 
all  seasons,  is  most  imperative.  Large  lumps 
of  rocksalt  are  kept  in  the  yard,  so  that  the 
cows  can  help  themselves  at  will. 

All  throughout  the  year  every  cow  is 
groomed  twice  a  week. 

THE  DAIEY 

Milk,  cream  and  butter  are  extremely  sus- 
ceptible and  absorbs  odors,  so  faint  as  to 
be  imperceptible  to  the  average  person.  Some 
special  place  must  be  devoted  exclusively  to 
dairy  work.  We  are  fortunate  in  having  a 
spacious  spring-house,  with  a  floor  three  feet 
below  the  ground,  a  stone  gutter,  two  feet 
deep  and  wide,  running  all  round  the  four 
sides,  which  is  fed  from  a  spring  which  fur- 
nishes a  constant  stream  of  ice-cold  water,  so 
far  below  freezing  point  that  the  flow  is 
never  stopped.  The  roof,  which  is  double, 

188 


THE   EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

is  eight  feet  above  the  floor,  and  the  whole 
house  is  so  well  shaded  by  a  large  elm  tree, 
that,  even  on  the  hottest  day  in  summer,  there 
is  hardly  any  change  in  temperature  within 
its  stone  walls. 

When  the  last  pail  of  milk  has  been  brought 
down  from  the  barn  the  separator  is  started, 
as  the  work  is  best  accomplished  whilst  the 
milk  is  still  warm.  The  action  of  the  separa- 
tor collects  the  fatty  constituents  of  the  milk 
by  means  of  centrifugal  power.  The  cream 
particles,  being  lighter,  are  forced  to  the  top, 
whilst  the  milk,  being  the  heavier,  is  drawn 
down  to  the  level  of  the  revolving  disks  in  the 
center  of  the  machine.  Outlets  are  arranged 
at  the  respective  heights,  the  cream  flowing 
from  the  top,  and  the  milk  from  the  lower. 
My  own  experience  has  been  with  a  hand- 
power  De  Laval  machine,  which  is  simplicity 
itself.  All  the  operator  has  to  do  is  to  pour 
the  new  milk  into  the  opening  at  the  top  of 
the  machine,  put  a  vessel  under  the  mouth  of 
each  outlet  tube  and  turn  the  crank. 

189 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

When  the  skim  milk  has  been  carried  out 
to  the  young  stock,  and  the  cream  put  to  cool, 
the  machine  may  be  taken  apart  and  washed  in 
a  few  minutes;  for  there  are  no  intricate  fit- 
tings or  corrugated  surfaces  to  clean. 

We  have  large  jars  for  the  cream,  which 
are  kept  standing  in  the  gutter;  for,  to  make 
good,  well-flavored  butter,  the  cream  must  be 
kept  cold,  to  check  the  growth  of  undesirable 
bacteria,  until  ripening  is  desired.  After  the 
cream  is  poured  into  the  jar,  stir  for  a  few 
minutes,  to  insure  its  being  uniformly  cool. 
Use  a  glass  thermometer,  specially  made  for 
dairy  work,  and,  when  the  temperature  has 
fallen  below  60  degrees,  the  cover  can  be  put 
on  the  jar,  which  should  then  be  enveloped  in 
a  thick  white  cloth,  the  ends  of  which  should 
reach  the  water. 

Warm  cream  from  the  separator  must  not 
be  added  to  the  chilled  cream  until  it  has  been 
reduced  to  the  same  temperature.  All  cream 
being  held  over  for  butter,  should  be  stirred 
for  a  few  minutes  every  day. 

190 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY, 

Though  cream  has  to  be  kept  at  such  a  low 
temperature  that  souring  will  not  develop 
naturally,  it  is  necessary,  for  flavor,  that  it 
should  be  sour  when  churned;  and,  to  produce 
the  exact  condition  most  advantageous  to 
butter  making,  what  is  called  a  starter  has  to 
be  used;  which  is  simply  fresh  skim  milk,  kept 
at  a  temperature  between  70  degrees  and  80 
degrees,  which  will  turn  it  within  twenty-four 
hours.  To  make  a  good  starter,  the  milk 
should  turn  into  a  jelly  that  will  fall  into 
sharp-edged  pieces  when  broken.  Before,  or 
after,  that  exact  point  in  the  process  of  sour- 
ing, conditions  are  present  which  mitigate  its 
value  as  a  starter. 

Taking  special  pains  to  keep  cream  sweet, 
and  then  troubling  to  create  a  medium  for 
turning  it,  may  seem  a  ridiculous  proceeding; 
but  the  scientific  gentlemen,  who  are  inti- 
mately acquainted  with  the  respective  fami- 
lies of  bacteria  which  work  good  and  bad 
effects,  have  discovered  that  the  natural 
ripening  of  cream  encourages  the  develop- 

191 


THE   EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

ment  of  the  family  which  causes  putrefac- 
tion, gassy  fermentations,  and  other  evil 
changes;  whereas  the  quickly  congealed  skim 
milk  is  only  congenial  to  the  desirable  family, 
which,  when  introduced  into  fresh  cream, 
create  the  nutty  flavor,  which  makes  the  best 
butter  such  an  appetizing  luxury. 

We  churn  three  times  a  week  in  the  sum- 
mer, and  twice  in  the  winter,  and  use  a  large- 
sized  barrel  churn,  which  must  be  rinsed  out 
with  cold  water  in  the  summer  and  hot  in  win- 
ter. The  cream,  also,  must  be  55  degrees  in 
summer,  and  56  degrees  in  winter,  when 
turned  into  the  churn.  A  steady  revolution 
of  the  paddles,  at  a  rapid  rate,  if  maintained 
for  twenty  or  thirty  minutes,  is  sure  to  bring 
butter;  but,  after  a  little  practice,  the  sound 
will  convey  the  exact  condition  inside  the 
churn  without  timing  or  looking. 

When  the  butter  is  collected  into  small 
pieces  the  size  of  marbles,  run  out  the  butter- 
milk, and  replace  it  with  the  same  quantity 
of  water,  at  the  same  temperature,  and  in 

192 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

which  enough  salt  has  been  dissolved  to  make 
it  about  3  degrees  stronger  than  would  be  de- 
sirable in  the  butter.  Turn  the  handle  of  the 
churn  for  a  few  minutes,  to  thoroughly  wash 
off  the  buttermilk,  and  collect  the  butter 
into  larger  lumps.  Then  run  off  the  water, 
empty  the  butter  out  on  to  the  table  (a 
specially  made  table  and  roller,  to  be  found 
in  all  stores  where  dairy  supplies  are  sold), 
roll  out  the  butter,  divide  through  the  mid- 
dle, place  one  piece  over  the  other,  and  re- 
peat the  rolling,  until  the  water  is  pressed 
out  and  the  butter  is  waxy  and  firm  in  ap- 
pearance. 

Never  rub  butter  in  making  it  up,  or  it  will 
lose  its  texture  and  become  salvy.  Taste  dur- 
ing the  process  of  working,  and,  should  it  not 
be  salt  enough,  sprinkle  a  little  dry  salt  over 
it,  and  work  enough  to  distribute  evenly. 
Should  it  be  found  too  salt,  wash  it  with 
water  of  the  same  temperature.  The  con- 
stant reiteration  of  the  "same  temperature " 
shows  how  imperative  a  dairy  thermometer  is. 

193 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

For  private  customers  it  is  better  to  make 
up  butter  in  pound  prints,  which  should  be 
placed  on  a  flat  board,  or  dish,  and  set  on 
ice  to  harden,  and  then  be  wrapped  in  dairy 
paper.  Keep  in  a  dark,  cold  place  until 
shipped. 

In  the  summer  our  butter  all  goes  to  a  sub- 
urban town  12  miles  nearer  New  York  City, 
so  Sidney  drives  over  twice  a  week.  In  the 
winter  we  supply  four  families  in  the  city,  but 
then  there  is  no  trouble  about  packing  it  with 
the  eggs,  as  the  boxes  we  use  are  made  to  hold 
either  six  or  twelve  dozen  eggs — two  dozen  in 
each  tray.  The  removal  of  one  tray  makes 
room  for  four  pounds  of  butter. 

It  is  impossible  to  really  teach  butter  mak- 
ing by  description.  The  foregoing  hints 
should  enable  anyone  possessed  of  gumption 
to  acquire  the  knowledge,  which  is  only  to  be 
collected  from  actual  experience.  The  small 
dash  churn,  and  the  method  appropriate  for 
the  family  cow,  should  be  the  primary  course, 
and  is  detailed  in  "A  Self-Supporting 

194 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

Home,"   which   chronicles   our   initiation  into 
farm  life. 

When  cleaning  milk,  cream  or  butter 
utensils,  wash  first  in  cold  water,  and  scrub 
with  a  brush  kept  specially  for  the  purpose. 
Use  soda  or  salt,  but  never  soap  or  wash  pow- 
ders. When  thoroughly  clean,  rinse  in  scald- 
ing water,  and  depend  on  draining  and  airing 
to  dry  them  instead  of  using  a  cloth. 


YOUNG   CATTLE 

A  cow  should  be  bred  about  three  months 
after  calving.  Bellowing  and  restlessness 
are  the  signs  to  be  observed.  The  calf  is 
carried  nine  months,  and  should  be  taken 
from  the  cow's  presence  as  soon  as  dropped, 
for  then  both  are  saved  the  pain  of  separa- 
tion, and  a  calf  who  cannot  distinguish  be- 
tween a  real  mother  and  a  substitute,  will  ac- 
cept hand-feeding  without  trouble. 

The  first  milk  drawn  from  the  cow  should 
be  given  to  the  calf,  as  it  contains  qualities 

195 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

needed  to  clear  the  intestines,  and  regulate 
the  functions  of  nature.  Test  the  milk  when 
drawn  from  the  cow,  and  always  have  the 
calf's  food  the  same  temperature  for  the  first 
three  weeks;  after  which  it  can  be  gradually 
lowered.  With  the  first  four  calves  we  used 
cloth  teats,  to  teach  them  to  suck,  but  soon 
learned  that  it  was  almost  as  difficult  to  wean 
them  from  the  rags  as  it  would  have  been 
from  their  mothers,  and  that  they  would 
learn,  from  the  first,  just  as  readily  to  suck 
the  milk  direct  from  the  pail. 

For  two  weeks  nothing  but  skim  milk  is 
fed.  Then  two  quarts  of  wheat  bran  and  one 
quart  of  oil  meal  are  boiled  in  a  gallon  of 
water  for  one  hour,  strained,  and  half  a  cup- 
ful is  added  to  the  milk  at  each  feeding  for 
several  days,  after  which  the  quantity  is 
gradually  increased,  until  the  feed  is  about 
half  gruel  and  half  milk,  at  which  time  corn 
meal  is  introduced  into  the  gruel,  a  little  at 
a  time,  until  a  quart  is  being  used. 

Let  good,  clean  hay  be  within  reach  after 
196 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

the  third  week.  Veal  calves  should  have  all 
the  milk  they  want,  supplied  at  least  five 
times  a  day  for  the  first  two  weeks;  then 
four  times  a  day.  Calves  to  be  retained  for 
beef  can  at  the  end  of  the  fourth  week  be  cut 
down  to  three  meals  a  day,  and,  in  the  sum- 
mer, gradually  deprived  of  the  midday  meal, 
as  they  should  be  accustomed  to  pasture  after 
the  third  week. 

After  six  weeks  of  age  young  cattle  want 
to  make  growth,  more  than  flesh,  to  within  a 
short  time  of  marketing,  when  flesh  and  fat 
become  the  main  object.  A  glance  back  to 
the  tables  of  feed  materials,  in  the  chapters 
on  manurial  values  and  the  silo,  will  show  the 
constituents  of  relative  materials,  and  enable 
anyone  to  select  the  best  food  at  their  disposal 
for  desired  results;  remembering,  always,  that 
after  infancy  the  frame  must  be  built  before 
it  can  be  covered  with  flesh,  and  that  the  im- 
portant components  of  the  animal's  body  are 
water,  which  predominates  over  other  sub- 
stances; ash  or  mineral  matter,  which  is  the 

197 


substance  which  would  be  left,  as  ashes,  if  the 
body  were  burnt,  and  which  no  animal  can 
live  without,  so  a  small  percentage  is  neces- 
sary in  food  stuffs;  protein,  a  complex  group 
of  substances  which  contain  nitrogen,  and  are 
represented  by  lean  meat,  tendons,  ligaments, 
nerves,  skin  and  brain;  fat,  which  is  created 
from  any  surplus  of  digested  food,  over  and 
above  the  absolute  requirements  of  the  body's 
maintenance. 

It  will  not  do  to  feed  an  excess  of  any  one 
component  of  the  body  during  the  growing 
age,  except  in  the  case  of  milk  cows  and  lay- 
ing hens,  which  require  an  excess  of  protein, 
or,  as  it  is  often  called,  nitrogenous  food. 

Our  system  is  to  turn  out  to  pasture,  or  feed 
timothy  and  pea,  or  soy  bean  hay,  according 
to  the  season  of  the  year  at  which  they  cease 
to  be  babies,  and  keep  them  on  fodder  or 
pasture,  supplementing  in  fall  off  in  grass, 
through  drought  or  change  of  season,  with 
green  fodder  or  ensilage;  for  it  does  not 
pay  to  allow  young  cattle  to  be  checked,  and 

198 


THE   EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

growth    cannot    progress    without    sufficient 
food. 

Corn,  beans  and  oil  meal  are  amongst  the 
best  flesh  formers  when  fattening  rations 
begin. 


CHAPTER   EIGHT 

REARING  FAMILY  AND  WORK  HORSES 

WHEN  my  family  generously  decided  to  give 
me  a  horse  as  a  collective  Christmas  present, 
fate,  or  whatever  the  odd  destiny  was  which 
seems  to  have  controlled  our  doings,  ordained 
that  a  land  agent,  who  lived  on  a  farm,  and 
kept  a  fast  road  horse  to  take  him  to  and  from 
his  office  in  the  suburban  town  twelve  miles 
away,  should  die  suddenly,  his  wife  decided  to 
move  into  town,  and  offered  the  horse,  trap,  and 
complete  outfit  for  sale,  at  such  a  reasonable 
price,  that  it  tempted  my  folks  to  the  ap- 
parent extravagance  of  buying  a  real  driving 
horse,  instead  of  the  all-round  useful  animal, 
suitable  to  our  establishment  at  that  tune. 

That  they  had  qualms,  I  am  sure ;  for,  in  the 
midst  of  my  delighted  raptures,  after  I  found 
Dolly  on  Christmas  morning  (the  whole  affair 

200 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

had  been  kept  a  profound  secret,  and  they  had 
smuggled  her  into  the  barn  the  night  before), 
my  dear  husband  said: 

"  I  am  awfully  glad,  Mater,  that  we  could 
not  find  a  useful  horse,  for  it  would  not  have 
called  forth  one-half  this  amount  of  pleasure 
and  pride." 

Which  clearly  proved  that  their  judgment 
had  been  overruled  by  the  will  of  our  genii. 

The  significance  of  the  horse  being  a  mare 
escaped  us,  until  one  day  early  in  March,  when 
I  drove  to  the  depot  quite  fast,  to  catch  the 

mail,  and  met  Mr.  E there.  He  came  up, 

patted  Dolly,  and  said  casually: 

"  Rather  fast  driving,  my  little  lady." 

Pride  prompted  my  answer.  "  Oh,  Dolly 
can  do  better  than  that." 

"  Yes,  yes,  but  I'd  slow  down  from  now.  It 
will  be  safer." 

"Why,  what  do  you  mean?"  I  commenced, 
when  Mr.  E burst  out  laughing. 

"Ah,  I  caught  you,  Mrs.  Farmer!  It's  a 
surprise,  isn't  it?  There  should  be  a  pretty 

201 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

good  youngster  long  about  pasture  time,  for 
she  was  over  to  our  place  in  October.  Thought 
you  didn't  know  about  it,  and  it's  as  well  you 
should,  so  you  will  start  off  in  time  to  go  over 
the  road  quietly.  There,  don't  look  so  glum 
about  it!  You  ought  to  be  mighty  glad.  Just 
be  a  little  careful.  Give  her  mash  about  three 
times  a  week.  Add  a  little  oil  meal,  and  a  few 
carrots  now  and  then  won't  hurt." 

I  turned  home  feeling  truly  glum.  Horse 
breeding  seemed  such  a  masculine  sort  of  busi- 
ness to  be  plunged  into  willynilly.  Time,  and 
Dolly's  serene  good  health,  dispelled  some  of 
my  nervous  trepidation,  and  I  gradually  be- 
came reconciled  to  the  inevitable,  which  ar- 
rived the  first  week  in  May. 

Of  course  all  resentment  vanished  when  the 
little  chap  was  able  to  plead  his  own  cause. 
One  look  from  his  appealing  brown  eyes  made 
us  all  captive;  for,  as  old  Reika  often  asserted, 
in  her  odd  jargon,  "  Yune  alls  was  such  fond 
fools  bouts  baby  catties,  as  makes  yune  softy". 

Truly,  all  baby  things  did  appeal  irresistibly 
202 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

to  us  women  folks,  and  even  the  "master 
man  "  and  Sidney  had  a  predilection  for  the 
new  arrivals. 

"  Surprise  "  really  was  a  darling — so  intel- 
lectual and  gentle.  Dolly  had  been  a  pet  be- 
fore she  came  to  us,  and  had  lost  none  of  her 
friendly  ways,  one  of  which  was  trotting  down 
to  the  house  alone  in  the  morning,  and  whinny- 
ing at  the  dining-room  window,  until  the  case- 
ment was  opened,  and  she  had  the  slice  of 
bread  which  was  always  waiting  for  her. 
After  a  little  talking  and  some  cannudaling, 
she  would  trot  back  again  to  the  stables,  with- 
out even  attempting  to  go  on  the  lawn  or 
escaping  on  to  the  road.  Mr.  Fred  said  she 
understood  patrol,  and  was  too  honorable  to 
break  it.  From  the  time  Surprise  was  two 
days  old,  he  accompanied  his  mother  in  the 
morning,  and  was  allowed  to  stay  around  while 
she  was  groomed,  the  little  fellow  himself  hav- 
ing a  rub-down  and  a  halter  put  on  every  morn- 
ing. 

In  fact,  he  was  allowed  to  be  around  the 
203 


THE   EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

stables  and  farm  buildings,  and  treated  gen- 
erally much  more  like  a  large  dog  than  a  colt. 
So,  as  he  grew  older,  instead  of  scampering 
away,  he  trotted  up  to  any  person  who  ap- 
proached him,  quite  sure  of  a  pat  and  some 
tidbit — all  our  folks  being  in  the  habit  of 
carrying  carrots,  apples,  bread,  sugar,  or  corn 
in  their  pockets  for  the  different  animals,  so 
many  of  whom  had  started  life  as  pets,  and 
never  outgrown  the  habits  of  youth. 

When  he  was  about  three  months  old,  Sid- 
ney improvised  a  harness  and  hitched  him  to 
a  small,  home-made  cart,  and  utilized  him  to 
carry  around  chicken  feed  to  the  different 
houses.  By  such  means  he  was  virtually  broken 
to  harness  before  he  was  weaned;  and  from 
that  time  on  he  was  used  for  light  tasks,  such 
as  carrying  in  dried  leaves,  or  now  and  then  to 
give  Mr.  Fred's  baby  a  ride  up  and  down  the 
drive — of  course  someone  leading  him  by  the 
bridle,  in  case  any  kittenish  desire  to  roll  should 
suddenly  possess  him.  But  he  usually  behaved 
with  the  gravity  of  a  senior. 

204 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

Real  breaking  was  quite  unnecessary  in  his 
case,  for  he  naturally  slipped  from  one  thing 
to  another,  until  he  was  a  fully  trained  driv- 
ing horse  at  three  years  of  age;  at  which  time 
we  sold  him  for  $200  to  a  family  who  still 
have  him,  and  think  he  is  the  best  horse  in  the 
world. 

During  the  twelve  years  we  had  Dolly  she 
gave  us  six  colts,  including  Surprise,  which 
sold,  respectively,  at  the  following  prices: 
Second,  when  two  years  old,  $100.  Third, 
two  years  old,  $180.  Fourth,  two  years  and 
four  months  old,  $225.  Fifth,  eighteen 
months  old,  $125.  There  is  a  charge  of  $45 
against  each  of  the  first  two  colts — $25  service 
fee,  and  $20  feed.  The  last  three  colts  are  only 
charged  with  $20  each,  as  by  that  time  we  had 
a  stallion  on  the  farm. 

A  clear  profit  of  $700  from  the  progeny  of 
an  animal  who  always  more  than  earned  her 
keep,  savored  so  much  of  finding  money,  that, 
when  a  farm  team  became  necessary  two  mares 
were  selected.  They  were  just  strong,  well- 

205 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

proportioned  animals,  but  there  was  a  really 
good  percheron  stallion  within  available  dis- 
tance, and  our  draught  colts  were  even  more 
remunerative  than  our  roadsters. 

Three  driving  mares  were  bought,  as  op- 
portunity afforded.  The  first  and  last  proved 
good  investments,  but  the  second  disappointed 
us  once,  and  the  next  time  gave  us  much  anx- 
iety, and  eventually  died,  leaving  a  tiny,  weak 
colt,  which  only  weighed  forty  pounds.  Sensible 
people  would  have  dispatched  it  with  its  un- 
fortunate mother,  but  "  us  fond  fools  "  fought 
for  the  poor  little  life  as  if  the  universe  de- 
pended upon  its  survival.  It  was  kept  wrapped 
in  a  blanket,  and  fed  from  a  bottle  for  several 
days.  Then  a  goat  gave  birth  to  a  kid  which 
died,  and,  as  a  sort  of  desperate  chance,  we 
carried  the  colt  into  her  stall.  She  was  a  quiet 
old  thing,  who  let  us  fuss  about  her,  milking 
a  little,  and  then  coaxing  the  colt  to  help  it- 
self. For  some  time  the  task  proved  hopeless, 
but  Sidney  persevered  until,  eventually,  the 

poor,  half -dead  mite  seemed  to  comprehend 

206 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

what  was  required  of  her,  and  made  an  effort 
which  must  have  been  very  satisfactory  to  its 
appetite,  for  there  was  no  more  coaxing  nec- 
essary. 

It  gained  strength  at  every  feed  until,  at  the 
end  of  a  week,  it  could  stand,  even  stagger, 
about  the  stable.  The  goat  was  such  a  small 
foster-mother,  even  for  such  an  undersized 
colt,  that,  as  it  grew  stronger,  difficulties  would 
have  arisen  had  it  not  discovered  that  lying 
down  brought  it  within  comfortable  reach  of 
sustenance.  Whether  she  imbibed  odd  charac- 
teristics from  her  foster  mother,  or  the  amount 
of  petting  and  spoiling  she  received  was  an- 
swerable, I  don't  know,  but  she  developed  into 
a  regular  little  elf,  skipping  and  dancing  about 
from  morning  till  night,  which  made  us 
christen  her  Zephyrina.  Fortunately  she  was 
not  really  vicious.  Mr.  Fred's  children  were 
able  to  ride  her  about  the  farm  from  the  time 
she  was  big  enough  to  carry  them.  But  if 
anything  startled  her,  or,  I  really  believe, 
amused  her,  her  front  feet  went  up  in  the  air, 

207 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

and  she  waltzed  round  and  round,  like  a  tee- 
totum. The  children,  who  knew  no  fear, 
thought  it  was  great  fun  to  cling  to  her  mane 
through  such  performances,  so  no  one  inter- 
rupted at  first,  and,  unfortunately,  she  had 
never  been  accustomed  to  the  small  cart,  or 
taught  any  useful  habits,  though  she  could 
open  doors,  untie  neckties,  jump  poles,  even 
lie  down  when  told  to,  and  perform  lots  of  such 
tricks. 

When  she  was  about  three  years  of  age,  Mr. 
Fred  broke  her  to  harness,  and  the  two- wheeled 
road  cart.  I  commenced  using  her,  hoping 
that  I  should  be  able  to  break  her,  gradually, 
of  the  rearing  habit.  One  day  at  the  village 
I  had  to  wait  for  some  things  at  the  store. 
The  old  gentleman  came  out  to  chat,  and  com- 
menced to  smooth  Zephyrina's  forelock,  a 
liberty  which  the  young  lady  resented.  Up 
went  her  front  feet,  and  she  indulged  in  a 
lively  waltz,  whirling  the  cart  round  and  round, 
whilst  the  old  gentleman  yelled  curse  words  at 
her,  and  foolishly  tried  to  get  near  the  back 

208 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

of  the  cart,  with  some  vague  idea  of  Dragging 
me  out.  When  I  at  last  persuaded  him  to  stop, 
and  was  able  to  bring  Zephyrina  to  reason, 
and  her  feet  to  earth,  several  people  had  ar- 
rived on  the  scene.  The  stout  old  storekeeper, 
between  his  puffs  and  gasps,  informed  us  that 
the  "  blasted  creature  "  was  "  a  jack  rabbit, 
and  not  a  horse." 

Poor  Zephyrina!  From  that  day  she  was 
known  throughout  the  neighborhood  as  the 
"  crazy  jack  rabbit."  Gossip  carried  accounts 
of  several  such  performances  to  the  ears  of  my 
husband  and  mother,  who  became  so  distress- 
ful of  Zephyrina's  future  conduct,  and  my 
safety,  that  she  was  lent  to  a  young  fellow 
who  wanted  a  saddle  horse,  and  eventually 
given  to  him  when  he  was  going  out  West  on 
to  his  uncle's  ranch,  from  where  he  occasionally 
writes,  telling  of  some  new  proof  of  the  "  jack 
rabbit's  "  wonderful  sense  and  affection. 

But  to  return  to  the  practical.  Every  farm 
must  have  work  horses,  and  every  country 
home  should  have  a  nice  driving  horse.  Both 

209 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

would  answer  their  specific  purpose  as  well,  if 
mares,  and  will  materially  help  the  general 
scheme  of  money-making.  For  the  last  ten 
years  the  good  family  horse  and  the  farm  horse 
has  been  getting  more  difficult  to  find,  and 
higher  in  price;  nor  is  there  any  likelihood  of 
conditions  changing  for  some  years  to  come. 
There  are  usually  one  or  more  sires  to  be  found 
within  a  radius  of  ten  or  fifteen  miles,  so  that 
the  beginner  need  not  undertake  the  respon- 
sibility of  keeping  a  stallion,  which  is  usually 
the  portion  of  the  business  dreaded. 

We  should  probably  have  been  contented 
to  send  all  the  mares  out  to  service,  had  not 
a  fifteen-month-old  thoroughbred  been  put  up 
at  a  stock  farm  auction.  It  was  a  stormy 
day,  early  in  the  year,  and  the  attendance  so 
meager,  that  the  bidding  was  a  farce.  No  one 
made  an  offer  for  the  colt  at  first.  Then  a 
nasty-looking  man  said,  "  Thirty  dollars " ; 
and,  as  it  seemed  as  if  he  would  get  it,  I  said, 
"  Forty,"  though  I  hadn't  any  desire  to  have 
the  colt,  and  was  rather  sorry  for  the  impul- 

210 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

sive  bid,  when  he  was  knocked  down  to  me  for 
that  ridiculous  sum.  Three  years  later  he  was 
used  at  stud,  and  proved  an  excellent  sire  of 
light  driving  animals. 

Supposing  that  one  is  going  to  start  at  the 
bottom  of  the  ladder,  as  a  sensible  person  will 
do,  with  a  medium-weight  general  purpose 
horse,  who  can  be  driven  by  the  family,  yet 
do  cultivating  and  light  farm  work,  select  an 
animal  about  16%  hands  high,  weighing  at 
least  1,000  pounds,  with  deep  chest,  a  general 
sturdy  appearance,  strong  legs,  well  set  under 
the  body,  large,  round  hips,  and  a  good,  clear 
stride.  Health  and  good  temper  are  as  im- 
portant as  shape  in  every  class  of  animal,  and 
should  be  given  primary  consideration.  Such 
a  mare  can  often  be  bought,  even  now,  when 
over  twelve  years  of  age,  for  sixty  or  seventy 
dollars;  and,  if  there  is  a  good  percheron  or 
Norman  stallion  in  the  neighborhood,  the  colts 
will  be  of  the  strong,  draft-horse  type,  so 
greatly  in  demand,  and  will  bring  good  prices 
when  two  or  three  years  old. 

211 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

If,  however,  the  first  horse  is  under  16  hands 
and  1,000  pounds  weight,  and  of  a  slight  build, 
breed  to  the  best  driving,  or,  as  they  are  often 
styled,  "  roadster  "  type  of  sire  to  be  found  in 
the  neighborhood,  the  points  of  which  are 
given  by  Professor  Kennedy  as  follows: 

HEAD. — Ear  of  medium  size  and  pointed; 
eye  large,  prominent,  and  of  docile  expres- 
sion; bones  of  the  nose  straight  in  front, 
and  slightly  dished  laterally;  bones  of  crani- 
um nicely  rounded;  nostrils  firm,  large,  and 
readily  dilated;  muscles  of  cheek  well  de- 
veloped, but  not  too  heavy;  mouth  of  medi- 
um size;  lips  firm;  muzzle  fine  and  tapering; 
branches  of  lower  jaw  well  spread  apart  at  their 
angles. 

NECK. — Rangy,  with  a  well-developed  crest, 
and  attached  to  the  head  in  an  angular  sort  of 
way,  rather  of  obtuse  order. 

WITHERS. — Should  be  continuous,  with  the 
superior  border  of  the  neck  well  developed  and 
not  too  broad. 

SHOULDERS. — Oblique  from  above  down- 
212 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

ward  and   forward,   blade   well  covered  with 
muscles. 


Points  of  the  horse:  HEAD — 1,  muzzle;  2,  nostril;  3,  forehead; 
4,  jaw;  5,  poll.  NECK — 6-6,  crest;  7,  windpipe.  FORE-QUARTEB — 
8-8,  shoulder  blade;  9,  point  of  shoulder;  10,  breast;  11,  arm;  12, 
elbow;  13,  forearm;  14,  knee;  15,  cannon  bone;  16,  tendon;  17, 
fetlock;  17A,  pastern;  18,  coronet;  19,  hoof;  20,  heel.  BODY — 
21,  withers;  22,  back;  23,  ribs;  24,  girth;  25,  loins;  26,  croup;  27, 
hip;  28  flank;  29,  sheath;  30,  root  of  tail.  THE  HIND-QUARTER — 
31,  hip  joint;  32,  stifle  joint;  33-33,  gaskin;  34,  quarters;  35,  hock; 
36,  point  of  hock;  37,  location  of  curb;  38,  cannon  bone;  39,  back 
sinew;  40,  fetlock  joint;  40A,  pastern;  41,  coronet;  42,  hoof;  43, 
heel;  44,  location  of  spavin. 

213 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

CHEST. — Very  deep  through  the  girth;  breast 

good  depth  and  well  filled. 

ARM. — Strong,  and  well  set  in. 

ELBOW. — Well  muscled,  and  lying  close  to 
the  chest. 

FOREARM. — Well     developed     and     strong, 
with  muscles  well  defined  and  standing  boldly; 
out. 

KNEE. — Straight  and  strong  in  all  direc- 
tions^ free  from  malformations. 

KNEE  TO  FETLOCK. — Cannon  bone  rather 
short,  broad,  flat,  and  clean;  tendons  well  de- 
fined and  prominent,  not  tied-in  beneath  the 
knee,  and  free  from  beefiness. 

FETLOCKS. — Fetlock  joint  wide  and  well  de- 
fined. 

FRONT     PASTERNS. — Strong,     of     medium 
/length  and  obliquity. 

FRONT  FEET. — Of  medium  size,  rather 
round,  with  strong  wall;  sole  rather  concave; 
frog  large  and  well  developed;  heels  broad, 
strong  and  not  too  deep,  toes  turning  neither 
in  nor  out. 

214 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

BODY. — Back  straight  and  rather  short; 
loin  broad  and  well  muscled;  ribs  of  good 
depth,  with  well-marked  angles. 

CROUP. — Broad,  well  muscled,  and  out 
straight  to  tail,  which  should  be  full  haired 
and  well  carried. 

HAUNCH. — Muscles  well  developed,  deep 
through  ham;  quarters  broad  and  strong. 

STIFLE. — Strong,  well  muscled,  and  compact. 

GASKIN. — Muscles  prominent  and  hard. 

HOCK.  —  Large  and  strong  in  all  direc- 
tions; all  parts  well  developed;  free  from  mal- 
formations and  puffiness;  posterior  border 
straight. 

HOCK  TO  FETLOCK. — Cannon  bone  rather 
short,  broader  and  flatter  than  in  front;  ten- 
dons clean  and  standing  out  prominently. 

FETLOCK  JOINT. — Large  and  strong. 

HIND  PASTERN. — Strong,  of  medium  length 
and  obliquity. 

HIND  FEET. — Smaller,  and  not  so  round  as 
in  front;  sole  more  concave;  frog  well  devel- 
oped; heels  strong,  and  not  too  deep. 

215 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

COLOR. — Bay,  brown,  black,  chestnut,  roan, 
and  gray,  with  reasonable  modifications. 

SKIN  AND  HAIR. — Soft,  mellow,  loose  skin; 
fine,  sleek  coat  of  hair. 

TEMPERAMENT. — Docile,  kind,  prompt,  ener- 
getic, and  not  too  nervous. 

STYLE  AND  ACTION. — Free  and  elastic;  per- 
fect in  trotting  gait;  a  good  walker;  must  not 
paddle  or  roll  in  front;  may  go  wide  behind; 
may  either  trot  or  pace;  must  go  level,  without 
hitting  any  part,  and  be  able  to  go  fast. 

WEIGHT. — One  thousand  pounds  and  up- 
ward. 

HEIGHT. — Fifteen  to  IG1/^  hands. 

The  above  description  will  apply  to  the  mare 
and  gelding  of  this  class,  except  that  they  will 
not  be  so  masculine  in  appearance.  The  neck 
should  be  more  delicate  and  clearer  cut,  the  crest 
not  so  well  developed,  the  withers  more  pro- 
nounced, not  so  thick  through,  and  through  at 
the  upper  part,  and  there  should  be  a  slight 
line  of  demarcation  between  the  withers  and 
the  neck. 

216 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

It  may  not  be  possible,  of  course,  to  get  the 
ideal,  but  it  is  as  well  to  know  what  to  try  for. 
A  percheron  sire  should  be  16  or  17  hands 
high,  and  weigh  from  1,500  to  2,200  pounds, 
with  broad,  intelligent  head,  small  ears,  short 
neck,  strong,  well-formed  body,  low  and 
blocky,  short  legs,  and  large,  round  hoofs. 
They  are  quiet,  stolid  creatures,  naturally,  and 
the  colts  are  much  easier  for  an  amateur  to 
raise  and  break  than  the  more  high-spirited 
class  of  driving  horse. 

STABLING  AND   GENERAL   CARE 

Stables  should  be  light  and  well  ventilated, 
free  from  damp  and  drafts.  The  single 
horse  can  either  have  a  box  stall,  in  which  it 
can  be  free  to  move  around  at  will,  or  the 
ordinary  narrow  stall,  in  whicfc  it  is  controlled 
by  a  tether,  which  should  be  arranged  to  work 
on  a  pulley  and  weight,  to  prevent  it  getting 
entangled  in  the  horse's  legs,  and  causing  an 
accident  when  lying  down  or  getting  up. 

217 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

Grooming  is  of  the  utmost  importance,  not 
only  for  appearance,  but  health,  for  it  opens 
the  pores  of  the  skin,  promotes  circulation, 
and  aids  digestion.  Have  a  light  chain  or 
rope,  with  a  snap  at  one  end,  firmly  fastened 
to  each  side  of  the  barn  doorway,  and  just 
long  enough  to  reach  within  a  foot  of  the 
center.  Then,  when  the  horse  has  eaten  its 
breakfast,  lead  it  out  to  the  doorway,  and  at- 
tach the  snaps,  at  the  ends  of  the  chains,  to 
the  rings  in  the  bridle,  at  each  side  of  its  head. 

If  the  weather  is  cold  do  not  strip  oif  the 
stable  blanket  all  at  once.  Just  undo  the 
front,  turn  it  back  over  the  haunches,  curry 
neck  and  fore  quarters,  follow  with  a  stiff  corn 
brush,  replace  the  blanket,  turn  up  the  back 
part  over  the  shoulders,  to  be  out  of  the  way 
whilst  the  hind  quarters  are  curried  and 
scrubbed  with  the  corn  brush,  by  which  time 
the  horse's  blood  should  be  circulating  so  well 
that  the  blanket  can  be  entirely  removed,  to 
permit  polishing  with  the  hair  brush,  which 
must  be  accomplished  by  a  brisk,  circular 

218 


THE   EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

movement,  going  all  over  the  animal's  body, 
from  head  to  tail.  Finish  with  a  clean,  coarse 
cloth,  and  reblanket  at  once.  The  currycomb 
should  never  be  used  on  the  legs  or  the  face. 
For  the  former  use  a  coarse  corn  brush  first; 
finish  with  a  hair  brush  and  cloth.  For  the 
face  use  a  sponge  rung  out  of  water,  round 
eyes  and  mouth;  polish  with  a  dry  cloth. 

The  horse  should  also  be  brushed  after 
using,  before  being  placed  in  the  stable.  The 
tail  and  mane  should  be  washed  in  warm  water 
and  castile  soap  once  a  week,  and  well  brushed 
every  day.  Stray  hairs  in  the  mane  must  be 
pulled  out  with  a  sharp  twitch.  The  tail  can 
be  trimmed  with  scissors. 

Good  feet  are  more  than  half  a  Horse's 
value,  therefore  must  not  be  neglected.  A 
horse  only  traveling  a  few  miles  a  day  will 
need  shoeing  about  once  every  six  weeks, 
and  probably  the  shoes  resetting  once  every 
three  weeks.  The  feet  and  legs  must  be 
washed  off  every  day,  at  the  morning  groom- 
ing, and  any  foreign  substances  that  may 

219 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

have  lodged  round  the  edge  of  the  shoes  re- 
moved very  gently,  with  a  pointed  piece  of 
steel  or  iron.  The  sole,  or  inside,  of  a  horse's 
hoof  is  very  tender  and  easily  injured,  so  do 
not  allow  any  rough  or  inexperienced  stable 
boy  to  poke  about  indiscreetly  with  a  sharp  - 
pointed  weapon,  but  rather  depend  on  wash- 
ing only.  During  long  periods  of  dry 
weather,  it  is  beneficial  to  pack  a  horse's 

front  feet  in  linseed  meal  once  a  week.    Make 

i 

a  poultice  of  the  meal  and  hot  water,  hold  up 
the  horse's  hoof,  and  fill  to  the  edge  of  the 
shoe;  then  bind  in  place  with  a  strong  cloth 
or  burlap,  allowing  it  to  remain  several  hours, 
and  washing  off  in  warm  water. 

The  hair  on  the  fetlock  should  be  trimmed 
neatly,  but  for  the  country  I  do  not  believe 
in  cutting  too  close,  for  the  hair  is  a  protec- 
tion against  "  scratches."  The  horse  which  is 
regularly  clipped  is  usually  the  most  healthy, 
because  the  skin  can  be  kept  in  good  condi- 
tion, an  impossibility  if  the  body  is  covered 
with  long  hair. 

220 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

It  is  also  advisable  to  have  the  mouth  ex- 
amined by  a  thoroughly  experienced  person 
every  few  months,  as  the  molars  have  a  ten- 
dency to  roughen  on  the  outer  edge,  and  inter- 
fere with  mastication. 


FEEDING 

Feeding  even  the  one  useful  horse  must 
necessarily  be  influenced  by  the  class  to  which 
it  belongs,  and  the  amount  of  work  it  is  called 
upon  to  do.  The  light-weight  road  horse, 
traveling  only  a  few  miles  a  day,  will  keep  in 
good  condition  on  ten  pounds  of  hay  and 
nine  quarts  of  oats  a  day;  but  the  same  horse, 
doing  sixteen  or  twenty  miles  a  day,  would 
require  fifteen  pounds  of  hay  a  day  and  twelve 
quarts  of  oats.  A  heavy  horse,  doing  light 
work,  would  require  about  the  same  amount 
of  oats,  but  more  hay,  and,  when  doing  hard 
farm  work,  about  sixteen  quarts  of  oats,  so 
that  circumstances  and  common  sense  must 
regulate  exact  quantities. 

221 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

In  winter  we  deduct  one-third  of  the  oats 
at  night  and  replace  with  corn.  Saturday 
night  is  mash.  If  a  horse  is  having  four 
quarts  of  oats,  it  gets  the  same  of  mash,  com- 
posed of  two  quarts  of  ground  feed  (corn 
and  oats  ground  together),  two  quarts  of 
bran,  half  a  pint  of  linseed  meal,  all  mixed, 
and  moistened  with  boiling  water  early  in  the 
afternoon,  closely  covered,  and  fed  just  warm. 

Soy  bean  and  Canada  pea  hay  are  fed  as  a 
third  of  the  hay  ration  three  times  a  week.  In 
the  summer  bran  alone  is  used  for  the  mash, 
and  some  freshly  cut  grass  is  fed  every  night. 
The  work  horses  are  allowed  half  an  hour's 
loafing  time  in  the  paddock,  when  unharnessed 
at  night,  to  roll,  and  generally  relax,  before 
being  brushed  off,  legs  and  face  washed,  and 
turned  in  to  supper. 

How  and  when  to  water  horses  is  a  subject 
of  much  dispute.  Some  say  twenty  minutes 
before  eating,  some  twenty  after.  And  the 
quantity  is  as  widely  questioned.  Our  stables 
have  stationary  drinking  troughs,  which  are 

222 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

always  full,  so  the  animals  suit  their  individual 
tastes;  and,  in  hot  weather,  if  they  are  doing 
heavy  work  in  parts  of  the  farm  where  there 
is  no  running  water,  a  barrel  on  wheels  is 
taken  with  them,  and  stationed  where  the 
horses  will  pass  often  during  the  day.  When 
heavy  work  is  to  be  performed  on  record- 
breaking  days,  in  July  or  August,  plenty  of 
drinking  water,  and  a  big,  soaking  sponge, 
passed  over  head  and  throat,  ward  oif  ill  ef- 
fects from  the  heat. 

Of  course,  if  a  horse  comes  in  overheated 
from  driving  or  working,  it  would  be  danger- 
ous to  allow  it  to  drink  quantities  of  cold 
water;  but  sponging  its  face  and  fetlocks  re- 
lieves the  parching  thirst  of  fatigue  almost 
instantly.  I  know,  by  bathing  my  wrists 
under  similar  circumstances.  Then,  by  the 
time  the  horse  has  been  brushed  and  turned 
into  its  stall,  it  will  be  cool,  and  the  consuming 
desire  for  drink  so  moderated  that  no  restric- 
tion need  be  put  upon  its  helping  itself  to  all 

it  wants. 

223 


THE  BROOD   MAEE 

The  mares  are  worked  until  about  a  week 
of  foaling  time,  but  during  the  last  three 
months  their  tasks  are  of  lighter  descriptions. 
Exercise  of  a  description  to  which  the  mare  is 
accustomed,  if  not  too  heavy,  is  beneficial;  but 
if  she  is  used  to  hauling  loads  round  the  farm, 
don't  think  that  driving  her  to  the  village  and 
back  will  be  easier  and  therefore  preferable; 
for  the  unaccustomed  work  will,  in  all  proba- 
bility, worry  and  tire  her  much  more  than  doing 
her  ordinary  duties. 

Rations  are  about  the  same,  except  that  bran 
and  linseed  meal  mash  should  constitute  the 
night  feed,  twice  a  week,  during  the  seventh, 
eighth,  and  ninth  months;  and  three  times  a 
week  for  the  following  two  months,  when 
chopped  carrots  should  also  furnish  a  small 
part  of  the  diet,  say,  from  one  to  three  quarts 
a  day. 

A  mare  carries  her  foal  eleven  months,  or, 
to  be  more  exact,  330  days.  Except  with  a 

224 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

young  mare,  or  in  the  rare  case  of  accident,  it 
is  not  necessary  to  be  anxious  about  the  occur- 
rence. Give  her  a  box  stall,  with  plenty  of 
bedding.  When  it  comes  to  within  a  few  days 
of  the  time,  the  man  in  charge  of  the  stables 
should  make  a  visit  of  inspection  late  in  the 
evening,  and,  if  necessary,  remain  up  all  night, 
as  it  is  well  for  some  one  to  be  on  watch;  but 
one  accustomed  to  horses,  or,  indeed,  any  ani- 
mals, can  easily  detect  any  unusual  or  alarm- 
ing symptoms,  in  which  case,  unless  there  is  a 
good  horseman  on  the  farm,  it  would  be  safer 
to  send  for  a  veterinarian  or  some  experienced 
person. 

Quite  frequently  foals  need  teaching  to 
come  to  their  mothers,  and  occasionally  the 
mother  has  to  be  coaxed  into  allowing  its  ap- 
proach. 

Continue  the  bran  and  meal  mash  and  car- 
rots for  two  or  three  days,  then  gradually  go 
back  to  the  ordinary  rations. 


225 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY, 

THE   COLT'S   FEED  AND   EDUCATION 

The  mother  and  baby  are  left  together  for 
a  week  or  nine  days.  Then  the  mare  is  put 
back  to  work,  the  foal  being  stabled  with  her 
at  night,  and  allowed  an  hour  with  her  at  noon- 
time for  the  first  three  months.  At  least  that 
is  the  prearranged  plan,  but,  honestly,  I  think 
the  little  ones  are  rarely  kept  strictly  to  the 
rule,  because  they  are  so  frequently  about  with 
the  mothers  that  there  is  every  opportunity  for 
little  meals  to  be  stolen  without  us  humans 
raising  any  objection. 

When  foals  are  about  two  months  old,  a  pan 
of  finely  ground  oats  and  bran,  mixed  in  equal 
parts,  with  a  little  salt  added,  is  kept  on  a  high 
shelf  in  the  stable,  and  when  Mr.  Fred  or  Sid- 
ney are  around,  feeding,  they  put  a  little  in 
their  hands,  and  let  the  foal  lick  it  off,  which 
it  is  usually  quite  ready  to  do,  being  attracted 
by  the  salt.  When  it  has  acquired  a  taste  and 
appetite  for  the  grain,  a  small  pan  with,  per- 
haps, half  a  teacupful  of  the  mixture  is  held 

226 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

out  to  it  night  and  morning,  the  quantity  being 
increased  until,  at  four  months  old,  it  is  taking 
about  two  quarts,  night  and  morning.  Some 
of  the  best  timothy,  bean,  or  pea  hay  is  chopped 
fine,  and  kept  within  reach  of  the  foal  from 
the  first  month. 

One  of  the  road  mares  never  had  much  milk, 
and  her  foals  had  always  to  be  taught  to  drink 
from  a  pail,  in  the  same  manner  as  the  calves, 
fresh  cow's  milk  being  used  at  first,  then  skim 
milk,  mixed  with  oat  gruel.  The  want  of 
mother's  milk  never  made  any  perceptible  dif- 
ference, as  the  foals  seemed  just  as  healthy, 
developed  just  as  well  and  quickly,  as  the 
babies  who  had  good  mothers.  By  six  months 
of  age  the  foals  are  entirely  weaned,  and  have 
a  stall  of  their  own,  as  becomes  the  dignity 
of  a  half -grown  colt;  but  they  are  never  seg- 
regated, or  turned  out  to  rough  it,  and  become 
wild.  In  bad  weather  they  have  a  covered 
yard  to  play  and  exercise  in.  Fine  days,  the 
gate  into  the  stable  paddock  is  opened  for 
them  to  go  in  and  out  at  will. 

227 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

Racks  of  mixed  hay  and  water  are  access- 
ible in  the  yard.  Night  and  morning  they 
have  oats  and  bran,  with  a  little  corn  and  oil 
meal  added  alternately,  once  or  twice  a  week. 
During  January  and  February  the  night  meal 
consists  of  mash,  made  of  boiled  turnips, 
ground  feed,  and  bran.  There  is  always  rock- 
salt  in  the  yard,  but  still,  about  a  handful  is 
mixed  with  all  mash  fed,  to  insure  their  get- 
ting sufficient  for  health.  From  the  follow- 
ing spring  they  are  allowed  free  pasture 
range,  virtually  gathering  their  own  feed,  ex- 
cept that,  to  keep  them  tame  and  friendly, 
they  are  called  up  at  night,  given  a  few  oats, 
and  stabled. 

The  second  winter  they  again  have  the  mixed 
hay,  which  includes  timothy,  bean,  pea,  or 
clover,  the  three  latter  being  especially  good 
for  building  bone  and  sinew. 

TRAINING 

With  the  exception  of  Zephyrina,  we  have 
never  had  any  obstreperous  colts;  which,  I 

228 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

think,  is  due  solely  to  the  manner  of  bringing 
up.  From  birth  they  are  petted  and  caressed, 
always  wearing  a  halter,  and  being  accustomed 
to  having  a  hand  run  down  their  legs,  and  the 
feet  looked  at,  every  day,  not  with  the  idea 
of  discovering  disease  or  traces  of  gold,  but 
simply  as  a  part  of  the  curriculum.  During 
winter,  when  the  men  have  time,  they  are 
groomed  each  day;  and  after  six  months  of 
age  they  are  hitched  to  a  small  cart,  or  an 
equally  small  cutter,  and  used  round  the  place. 
Of  course  no  weight  is  put  upon  them,  and  it 
is  done  as  much  for  the  two  boys'  amusement 
as  any  idea  of  discipline,  Mr.  Fred  makes 
one  stipulation,  which  he  insists  upon  being 
observed,  which  is  that  under  no  circumstances 
must  a  colt  be  allowed  to  walk  slowly,  for  this 
is  a  habit,  once  acquired,  it  is  very  difficult  to 
break,  and  a  slow  walk  is  a  detriment  to  a 
horse  of  any  class. 

When  colts  are  able  to  trot  two  miles  they 
are  tied  behind  a  rig,  when  eggs  are  taken 
down  to  the  railway  station  of  a  morning. 

229 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

The  express  passes  through  ten  minutes  be- 
fore the  slow  train  we  ship  on  is  due,  so  the 
babies  get  accustomed  to  the  rush  and  noise 
of  a  locomotive  after  a  few  trips.  At  first 
Sidney  hitches  up,  gets  down,  and  holds  the 
foal  by  the  halter,  stroking  and  talking  to  it. 
Generally  its  mother  is  the  horse  between  the 
shafts,  which  also  gives  it  confidence.  The 
pasture  used  for  the  colts  in  summer  is  near  the 
cut  in  the  woods,  where  the  railway  passes 
through,  so  familiarity  breeds  the  usual  con- 
tempt, and  steam-engines  have  no  terrors  for 
our  young  horses. 

It  may  seem  a  lot  of  trouble  to  train  colts 
from  babyhood,  instead  of  leaving  them  wild 
until  two  and  a  half  or  three  years  old,  and  it 
probably  would  be  impossible  if  the  business 
was  being  conducted  on  a  large  scale;  but 
with  only  a  few  brood  mares,  and  a  liking  for 
animals,  it  is  a  pleasure  that  saves  trouble, 
risk,  and  much  cruelty  to  sensitive,  nervous 
creatures.  Think  how  terrifying  it  must  be 
to  a  young  horse  of  two  or  three  years  old, 

230 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

who  has  never  been  handled  or  restrained  in 
any  way,  to  be  suddenly  corraled  and  broken 
to  harness.  Notice  the  number  of  horses  who 
cannot  be  safely  driven  up  to  a  moving  train, 
and  you  must  be  convinced  how  difficult  the 
habits  of  youth  are  to  be  overcome.  There  is 
a  solidity  about  baby  creatures  which  makes 
them  accept  things  that  would  strike  terror  to 
the  soul  of  older  animals,  with  comparative  in- 
difference. If,  for  any  reason,  colts  have  to 
be  neglected  until  their  second  or  third  year, 
or  in  the  case  of  buying,  as  we  did  our  stallion 
"  Mogul,"  the  first  thing  is  to  get  on  friendly 
terms. 

We  turned  "  Mogul "  into  the  small  pad- 
dock, as  the  grass  was  scant  at  the  time  we 
bought  him,  and  coaxed  him  to  us  with  a  pan 
of  oats  and  salt.  At  first  he  resented  any  at- 
tempt to  pet  or  caress  him,  but,  after  a  few 
days,  he  accepted  such  attentions  with  an  air 
of  resignation,  which  gradually  gave  place  to 
pleasure  and  appreciation,  that  grew  until  he 
took  the  initiative,  on  seeing  any  of  us  at  the 

231 


gate,  and  trotted  up  with  a  whinny  of  wel- 
come, and  stretched  his  head  over  the  bars  to 
be  caressed.  After  a  time  we  used  to  slip  a 
halter  on  his  head  and  lead  him  into  the  yard, 
for  breakfast  and  supper;  so,  when  Mr.  Fred 
had  time  to  really  take  him  in  hand,  he  was 
nearly  as  gentle  as  one  of  our  own  rearing, 
and  my  most  devoted  servant,  as  he  always 
remained. 

Many,  nay,  most  people,  have  an  idea  that  a 
stallion  is  a  dangerous  animal,  unsafe  for 
general  use.  The  Mogul  was  spirited,  of 
course,  but  as  gentle  and  good-tempered  as  a 
lamb.  I  have  driven  him  everywhere,  even  to 
stock  farms  and  auctions,  where  there  were 
all  sorts  of  strange  horses,  and  he  never  be- 
came unruly.  He  could  be  trusted  to  go  down 
from  the  stable,  after  he  was  saddled,  to  my 
call,  and  would  follow  me  anywhere,  even  in 
the  woods,  where  branches  had  to  be  dodged 
and  brush  pushed  through. 


232 


CHAPTER   NINE 

QUAIL   AND    WILD   DUCK 

QUAIL  as  pets,  or  for  market,  are  most  sat- 
isfactory birds.  I  was  only  about  nine  years 
old  when  a  friend  of  my  father's  brought  me 
two  little  ones.  At  first  they  were  very  shy, 
and  would  not  feed,  so  a  mash  of  corn  meal, 
well  cooked,  mixed  with  hemp  seed,  and  moist- 
ened with  raw  egg,  was  pushed  down  their 
throats  with  the  aid  of  a  small  stick  about 
every  two  hours.  After  a  week  they  com- 
menced to  pick  from  my  fingers,  and  nestle 
into  my  hands,  as  contentedly  as  if  it  were 
their  nest. 

One  poor  little  fellow  was  accidentally  killed, 
but  the  other,  Bobby,  lived,  grew,  and  became 
one  of  my  army  of  pets,  sleeping  in  a  small 
dog  kennel  in  the  front  garden,  and  trotting 

233 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

about  with  the  cats  and  dogs,  much  more  like 
a  four-footed  beastie  than  a  wild  bird.  His 
friendliness  grew  until  the  following  spring, 
when  he  suddenly  disappeared,  to  reappear 
some  weeks  after  with  ten  little  ones  and  a 
mate.  Naturally  we  were  all  delighted,  though 
Bobby  never  succeeded  in  convincing  his  fam- 
ily that  house-dwellers  were  safe  creatures. 
They  would  hover  about  when  he  came  to 
ask  for  food,  and  when  we  retired,  after  scat- 
tering wheat  or  cracked  corn  over  the  garden 
path,  they  would  cautiously  respond  to  his 
call,  congregate  about  the  food,  and  enjoy  a 
goodly  meal. 

From  that  year  there  were  always  some 
quail,  in  a  half -wild  state,  feeding  about  the 
barn  buildings  during  the  winter.  As  nearly 
as  I  can  remember,  it  was  two  years  later  that 
Bobby  was  found  near  the  side  porch  with  one 
leg  and  one  wing  broken,  and  with  an  injured 
bill.  Of  course  he  was  taken  in  and  doctored, 
having  to  be  fed  with  almost  liquid  food, 
through  a  quill,  for  many  days.  At  last  he 

234 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

managed  to  hop  about  and  pick  up  food,  but 
always  remained  a  cripple,  and  never  evinced 
the  slightest  desire  to  wander  beyond  the  im- 
mediate vicinity  of  the  house. 

This  juvenile  friendship  with  Bobby  is  my 
authority  for  recommending  quail  as  pets. 
Their  commercial  value  was  first  tested  seven 
years  ago,  when  five  pairs  of  Bobwhites  were 
procured,  from  which  we  raised  fifty-two  the 
first  summer.  Fifteen  pairs  were  sold,  for 
propagating  purposes,  at  a  dollar  a  pair.  Six 
pairs  were  kept  to  increase  our  own  stock. 
Thirteen  birds  were  used  on  the  table,  and 
would  have  decided  any  doubt  about  quail 
being  an  acquisition  to  the  home,  even  if  they 
had  not  shown  such  a  good  cash  return. 

Game  birds  of  all  sorts  have  become  so 
alarmingly  scarce  throughout  the  country  dur- 
ing the  last  fifty  years,  that  organized  societies 
for  their  preservation  and  propagation  are 
being  formed  in  every  State.  In  1903  it  was 
estimated  by  the  Biological  Surveying  Bureau 
that  200,000  quail  were  required  by  such  so- 

235 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

cieties,  and  that  the  demand  would  be  larger 
each  season,  as  the  work  increased. 

Catching  wild  birds  in  remote  districts 
where  they  are  still  plentiful,  for  restocking 
preserves,  has  not  proved  successful,  because 
the  fright,  close  confinement,  and  unaccus- 
tomed food,  all  of  which  are  unavoidable  dur- 
ing the  period  of  shipment,  debilitate  the 
birds  so  seriously  that  the  majority  die  off 
when  liberated  amid  strange  surroundings, 
before  discovering  the  feeding  and  sheltering 
possibilities  of  their  new  environment;  so  the 
demand  for  live  birds  will  have  to  be  met  by 
semi-domesticated  stock. 

Many  of  our  neighbors,  and  probably  farm- 
ers in  other  districts,  deprecate  the  idea  of  re- 
stocking the  country  with  quail,  declaring  that 
they  are  as  destructive  in  corn  fields  as  crows, 
which  is  a  great  mistake,  according  to  Sylves- 
ter D.  Judd,  ornithologist,  who  has  published 
the  following  report: 

The  Bobwhite  is  preeminently  a  seed  eater. 
Of  its  food  for  the  year,  as  a  whole,  seeds 

236 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

form   50.78   per  cent.,   and  include  those   of 
many  different  plants. 

The  bulk  of  this  seed  diet  consists  of  the 
seeds  of  weeds.  Fully  sixty  different  weeds 
are  represented  in  the  food,  and  constitute 
more  than  a  third  of  the  food  for  the  year  as 
a  whole.  Some  idea  of  the  value  of  the  bird 
as  a  weed  destroyer  may  be  gained  from  the 
number  of  seeds  taken  at  a  meal.  Thirty  but- 
tonweed  seeds,  200  to  300  smartweed  seeds, 
often  500  of  sheep  sorrel,  and  700  of  three- 
sided  mercury  have  been  taken  at  one  feeding. 
One  bird,  taken  November  6,  1902,  had  eaten 
a  thousand  ragweed  akenes;  another,  killed  the 
previous  November,  had  eaten  an  equal  num- 
ber of  the  seeds  of  crabgrass,  a  troublesome 
weed  in  truck  land.  Birds  have  been  shot  in 
Mecklenburg  County,  Va.,  whose  stomachs 
contained  3,000  leguminous  seeds,  mostly  of 
the  tick  trefoil  and  various  species  of  bush 
clover.  Pigeon  grass,  which  is  extremely  com- 
mon and  mischievous  in  truck  land,  is  a  fa- 
vorite food.  No  less  than  5,000  seeds  of  this 

237 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

troublesome  plant  were  found  in  the  stomach 
of  a  bird  shot  in  October,  1902,  at  Pinebrook, 
N.  J.  Finally,  a  Bob  white  taken  on  Christ- 
mas Day,  1901,  at  Kinsvale,  Va.,  was  discov- 
ered to  have  eaten  10,000  seeds  of  that  abun- 
dant and  obnoxious  pest  of  the  garden,  the 
pigweed. 

A  careful  computation  of  the  total  amount 
of  weed  seed  the  Bob  white  is  capable  of  de- 
stroying is  surprising  in  the  magnitude  of  its 
result.  In  the  State  of  Virginia  it  is  safe  to 
assume  that,  from  September  1  to  April  30, 
the  season  when  the  largest  proportion  of 
weed  seed  is  consumed  by  birds,  there  are 
four  Bobwhites  to  the  square  mile,  or  169,800 
in  the  entire  State.  The  crop  of  each  of  these 
birds  will  hold  half  an  ounce  of  seed,  and  as 
at  each  of  the  two  daily  meals  weed  seed  con- 
stitutes at  least  half  the  contents  of  the  crop, 
or  a  quarter  of  an  ounce,  a  half  ounce  daily 
is  certainly  consumed  by  each  bird.  On  this 
very  conservative  basis  the  total  consumption 

of  weed  seed  by  Bobwhites,  from  September 

238 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

1  to  April  30,  in  Virginia,  amounts  to  570 
tons. 

The  Bob  white  is  insectivorous,  as  well  as 
granivorous.  Insects  are  eaten  during  every 
month  of  the  year,  and  amount  to  14.93  per 
cent,  of  the  food  for  the  year  as  a  whole. 
Furthermore,  the  proportion  of  injurious  in- 
sects habitually  eaten  by  the  Bobwhite  makes 
its  services  as  a  destroyer  of  insects  more  val- 
uable than  those  of  many  birds  whose  per- 
centage of  insect  food,  though  greater,  in- 
cludes a  smaller  proportion  of  injurious 
species. 

Conspicuous  among  the  pests  which  the 
Bobwhite  destroys  are  the  potato  beetle,  the 
twelve-spotted  cucumber  beetle,  the  bean-leaf 
beetle,  the  squash  ladybird,  wireworms  and 
their  beetles,  May  beetles,  such  weevils  as  the 
corn-bill  bug,  the  imbricated  snout  beetle,  the 
clover-leaf  weevil,  and  the  Mexican  cotton 
boll-weevil,  the  striped  garden  carterpillar, 
the  army  worm,  the  cotton  worm,  the  boll 
worm,  various  species  of  cutworms,  the  corn- 

239 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

house  ant,  the  red-legged  grasshopper,  the 
Rocky  Mountain  locust,  and  the  cinch  bug. 
Some  of  these  pests  are  relished,  for  a  dozen 
army  worms  or  cutworms  are  frequently  eaten 
at  a  meal.  Thirty  Rocky  Mountain  locusts 
have  been  found  in  a  single  crop.  Weevils 
are  greatly  sought  after,  47  cotton  boll- weevils 
having  been  eaten  in  a  morning  by  one  Bob- 
white.  Striped  cucumber  beetles  are  destroyed 
by  the  score,  potato  beetles  by  the  hundred, 
and  cinch  bugs  by  the  tablespoonful. 

From  May  to  August,  inclusive,  beetles 
form  17.9  per  cent,  of  the  food  of  the  Bob- 
white;  bugs,  6.3  per  cent.;  caterpillars,  2.4  per 
cent.;  grasshoppers,  2.3  per  cent.;  miscellane- 
ous insects,  0.8  per  cent.,  and  spiders  and 
other  invertebrates,  1.9  per  cent. 

The  losses  caused  by  some  of  these  pests 
show  how  desirable  it  is  to  protect  a  wild  bird 
that  habitually  destroys  them.  The  Mexican 
cotton  boll-weevil  damages  the  cotton  crop  to 
the  extent  of  $15,000,000  a  year,  the  potato 
beetle  lops  off  $10,000,000  from  the  value  of 

240 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

the  potato  crop,  and  the  cotton  worm  has  been 
known  to  cause,  in  a  year,  a  loss  of  $30,000,- 
000.  The  cinch  bug  and  the  Rocky  Mountain 
locust,  scourges  that  leave  desolation  in  their 
path,  have  each  caused,  in  certain  years,  a  loss 
of  $100,000,000. 

By  far  the  greatest  insect  destruction,  by 
the  Bob  white,  occurs  during  the  breeding  sea- 
son. Not  only  does  a  third  of  the  food  of  the 
adult  bird  then  consist  of  insects,  as  has  been 
stated,  but  their  growing  broods  consume  in- 
sects in  enormous  quantities.  The  food  of 
the  young  of  practically  all  land  birds  con- 
tains a  much  greater  percentage  of  insects 
than  that  of  the  mature  birds;  and  the  amount 
of  food  the  young  require  is  immense,  in  pro- 
portion to  their  size. 

In  order  to  learn  how  far  the  bird  might  in- 
jure ripening  wheat,  observations  were  made, 
for  several  years,  at  Marshall  Hall,  Md. 
During  November  immense  flocks  of  crow 
blackbirds  made  such  havoc  in  winter  wheat, 
that  diligent  use  of  the  shotgun  was  necessary 

241 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

to  save  the  crop.  But  no  Bobwhites  were  ever 
seen  in  the  act  of  taking  grain.  A  hen  bird, 
shot  June  18,  1903,  in  a  field  of  ripe  wheat, 
however,  had  much  grain  in  its  crop,  though 
whether  it  obtained  the  food  from  standing 
stalks  or  from  kernels  dropped  on  the  ground 
was  not  known.  As  the  Bobwhite  usually 
feeds  on  the  ground,  the  latter  source  appears 
the  more  probable.  Farmers  whom  the  writer 
has  consulted,  who  were  well  aware  that  gold- 
finches feed  on  ripening  oats,  and  that  red- 
winged  blackbirds  ruin  wThole  fields  of  sweet 
corn,  say  that  the  Bobwhite  does  no  harm  to 
standing  wheat  or  other  standing  grain. 

The  bird  is,  however,  a  notorious  stubble 
feeder.  Where  fields  of  wheat  stubble  sup- 
port a  rank  growth  of  ragweed,  as  in  some  of 
the  Eastern  States,  the  sportsman  is  most 
likely  to  find  a  covey  feeding.  On  the  West- 
ern plains  no  ragweed  grows  amid  wheat 
stubble;  therefore  the  birds  are  more  often 
found  in  cornfields,  where  the  stalks  have  been 
left  standing,  after  the  removal  of  the  ears. 

242 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

In  such  a  place,  at  Badger,  Neb.,  six  Bob- 
whites  were  shot  in  November,  1901,  whose 
corn-distended  crops  contained,  in  all,  181 
kernels.  Birds  that  feed  in  wheat  stubble 
often  take  from  100  to  200  grains  of  wheat 
at  a  meal.  A  Bobwhite  was  taken  in  Decem- 
ber, 1902,  at  West  Appomattox,  Va.,  whose 
crop  contained  508  grains  of  wheat,  and  was 
distended  almost  to  bursting.  This  habit  of 
gleaning  waste  grain,  after  harvest,  is  bene- 
ficial to  the  farm,  as  the  germination  of  volun- 
teer grain  is  not  desirable,  especially  where 
certain  insect  pests,  or  parasitic  fungi,  are  to 
be  combated.  As  the  scattered  kernels  are 
often  too  far  afield  for  domestic  poultry  to 
gather,  the  Bobwhite's  services  in  this  respect 
are  especially  useful. 

Being  such  splendid  aids  to  agriculture,  I 
think  that  every  owner  of  land  should  con- 
sider it  a  moral  duty  to  keep  a  few  pairs  in 
captivity,  and  turn  their  progeny  loose  each 
season,  and  to  construct  a  few  shelters,  in  re- 
mote parts  of  the  farm,  to  save  their  being 

243 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

snowed  under,  and  starved  to  death,  during 
severe  winter  weather,  as  dozens  do  every  year, 
through  their  habit  of  lying  on  the  ground 
under  brush,  instead  of  roosting,  like  the  ma- 
jority of  birds.  It  would  not  take  much  time 
or  trouble  just  to  make  a  sort  of  hurdle,  five 
or  six  feet  square,  of  saplings  and  cedar 
boughs,  with  one  end  raised  a  foot  above  the 
ground,  on  logs.  Then,  when  the  natural 
supply  of  food  commences  to  be  scarce,  scat- 
tering a  little  grain  under  the  shelters,  for  a 
few  times,  will  attract  the  birds  to  the  refuges. 

Even  semi-invalids,  or  bachelor  girls,  who 
contemplate  spending  a  summer  a  la  Robin- 
son Crusoe,  would  find  the  care  of  one  or  two 
pairs  of  quail  an  appropriate  occupation. 
After  nesting  time,  when  they  are  quite  tame, 
and  allowed  entire  freedom,  their  presence  will 
attract  the  real  wild  creatures  of  the  vicinity 
to  venture  within  close  range,  and  afford  op- 
portunity for  many  friendships  with  the  furry 
and  feathered  neighbors. 

As  fall  approaches,  and  the  supper  fire  is 
244 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

raked  into  a  crackling  glow  for  the  evening, 
the  long,  mellow  note  of  the  Bob  white,  which 
summons  wanderers  from  the  cover,  home  to 
the  chosen  night  shelter,  sounds  a  personal 
note  which  prevents  the  mysterious  murmur 
of  the  woods  becoming  uncanny  to  the  ama- 
teur hermit.  Another  advantage  of  such  com- 
panions for  a  wilderness  sojourn  is  that,  when 
holiday  time  ends,  and  camp  has  to  be  broken, 
they  can  be  left  to  fend  for  themselves  with- 
out any  cruelty. 

MANAGEMENT   AND    CARE 

There  are  five  varieties  of  quail  common 
in  different  parts  of  this  country:  Mexican 
crested,  which  lay  from  nine  to  sixteen  eggs; 
California  partridge  (quail),  from  eight  to 
twenty-four  eggs;  and  the  Bobwhite,  which  is 
the  variety  most  generally  used  for  market 
purposes,  and  lays  an  average  of  fifteen  eggs 
to  a  clutch,  sometimes  nesting  twice  in  a  sea- 
son. 

245 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

Our  original  inclosure  was  70  X  50  feet,  a 
trench  9  inches  deep  being  dug  all  around,  to 
insert  a  foot-board,  which  formed  the  base. 
Wire  of  half-inch  mesh,  2  feet  deep,  was  fol- 
lowed by  two-inch  mesh,  4  feet  deep,  making 
the  "  walls  "  6  feet  6  inches  high.  The  land 
was  partly  covered  with  brush,  which  afforded 
the  shade  and  secrecy  positively  necessary  to 
successful  breeding.  The  cleared  spots  were 
dug  up  for  dusting  baths.  In  the  center  a 
shelter,  6  feet  square,  was  erected,  consisting 
of  rough  boards,  nailed  together  on  scantling. 
Logs,  3  feet  long,  and  about  15  inches  in  cir- 
cumference, were  used,  one  at  each  corner,  as 
supports.  The  two  back  legs  were  inserted  a 
foot  and  a  half  in  the  ground;  the  front  ones 
only  a  foot,  so  making  a  slant  to  the  roof  that 
would  shed  rain.  The  back  was  boarded  up 
tight,  sides  and  front  being  left  open,  except 
for  the  shelter  afforded  by  brush,  which  was 
piled  up  all  around,  to  prevent  the  snow  from 
beating  in  on  the  birds. 

The  original  five  pairs  were  shipped  to  us 
246 


from  the  Southern  Michigan  Game  Associa- 
tion, and,  being  a  long  time  on  the  route, 
looked  such  sorry  little  creatures  when  they 
arrived,  that,  instead  of  turning  them  out  into 
the  proper  inclosure,  a  pen  used  for  breeding 
pheasants,  9  feet  long,  3  feet  wide,  with  a 
coop  at  one  end,  was  utilized  for  their  accom- 
modation, so  that  we  could  observe  any  dan- 
gerous symptoms.  Fortunately  no  actual  dis- 
ease did  develop,  but  without  the  dieting  and 
cosseting  they  received  I  doubt  if  many  would 
have  survived;  for  they  had  contracted  colds, 
and  had  been  roughly  thrown  about  in  ship- 
ment, one  bird  having  an  injured  eye,  and  the 
other  a  strained  wing,  casualties  which  were 
not  perceptible  in  the  close  quarters  of  the 
crate,  and  which  necessitated  catching  the 
sufferers  and  confining  them  in  separate  cages 
for  treatment. 

The  other  eight  received  the  following  doc- 
toring: One  tablespoonful  of  kerosene  oil 
added  to  every  quart  of  drinking  water  as 
a  specific  against  roup,  canker,  and  other 

247 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

troubles  likely  to  develop  from  a  cold.  A 
mash  composed  of  scalded  liver,  and  garlic 
chopped  very  fine,  steamed  bran,  and  corn 
meal,  all  mixed,  and  fed  at  a  crumbly  con- 
sistency, was  the  morning  meal  for  about  two 
weeks.  At  noon,  ragweed  and  pigweed,  or 
shumac  heads  served  for  lunch.  Supper  was 
whole  wheat. 

In  about  three  weeks  the  birds  had  quite  re- 
covered, and  were  turned  into  the  inclosure. 
Then  mash  was  only  fed  three  times  a  week, 
for  another  two  weks;  then  twice  a  week,  for 
two  weeks;  after  which,  it  was  stopped  alto- 
gether, the  regular  winter  rations  being 
cracked  corn,  wheat,  kafir  corn,  or  any  of  the 
similar  grains,  night  and  morning;  seed-heads 
of  weeds  and  shumach  being  gathered  and 
given  to  them  once  or  twice  a  week,  just  when 
it  was  convenient  to  gather  them.  Occasion- 
ally a  little  green  bone,  or  chopped  lights,  were 
given,  as  they  were  always  on  hand  through- 
out the  winter  for  the  poultry;  but  when  such 
is  not  the  case,  quail  will  do  just  as  well  with- 

248 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

out  animal  food,  until  the  middle  of  February, 
when  meat  or  ground  fresh  bone  must  form 
part  of  their  diet  if  eggs  are  to  be  plentiful 
and  the  little  ones  strong. 

By  the  middle  of  March  boxes  a  foot  square, 
with  front  and  one  side  knocked  out,  were  se- 
creted under  brush,  in  different  parts  of  the  in- 
closure,  with  the  hope  that  the  birds  would  find 
and  nest  in  them  later  in  the  season.  The  rea- 
son for  knocking  out  the  side  of  the  box  is  to 
allow  the  bird  to  jnest  on  the  earth,  which  they 
seem  to  prefer.  I've  been  asked,  "  Why  put 
boxes  at  all?"  and,  as  the  question  may  occur 
to  the  reader,  it  will  be  answered.  Boxes  pro- 
tect the  sitting  birds  from  four-footed  ene- 
mies that  might  creep  up  from  the  rear  and 
attack  her  or  steal  the  eggs. 

The  first  year  the  birds  were  allowed  to  nest 
and  rear  their  own  broods.  Subsequently 
some  of  the  eggs  from  each  nest  were  stolen, 
and  set  under  bantam  hens.  As  with  most 
game  and  water  birds,  this  is  the  best  plan, 
as  the  domestic  hen  of  any  size  is  more  amena- 

249 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

ble  to  control,  and  the  babies  can  be  given  bet- 
ter care;  moreover,  depleting  the  nest  cheats 
the  birds  into  laying  more  eggs,  before  desir- 
ing to  set.  Our  rule  is  not  to  take  any  eggs 
until  the  nest  contains  three.  After  that  each 
extra  one  is  purloined,  up  to  the  thirteenth, 
which  gives  us  ten  from  each  bird  as  a  rule. 
But  birds  vary;  some  will  commence  to  set 
even  on  three  eggs,  though  it  doesn't  happen 
often.  It  is  not  safe  to  be  seen  interfering 
with  the  nests,  so  the  thief  should  make  the 
raid  whilst  the  birds  are  being  given  their 
evening  meal. 

Always  feed  at  the  same  place  in  the  in- 
closure,  use  the  same  call,  or  whistle,  and  they 
will  soon  become  as  tame  and  responsive  as 
poultry.  The  eggs  are  laid,  pointed  end  down- 
ward, in  a  tray  of  bran,  and  turned  every  day 
until  set. 

We  use  boxes  3  feet  long,  3  feet  wide,  and 
15  inches  deep,  with  a  lid  made  of  wire  net- 
ting, in  which  to  set  hens  in  charge  of  game 
eggs — nest-boxes  a  foot  square,  carpeted  with 

250 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

a  thick  sod,  being  placed  in  one  corner.  The 
floor  of  the  large  box  is  covered  with  ashes, 
and  pans  for  water  and  feed  are  fastened  to 
one  side,  so  that  Biddy  can  take  a  meal  if  she 
feels  so  inclined.  The  reason  for  the  large 
box  is  threefold.  First,  it  prevents  rats  get- 
ting to  the  eggs;  second,  Biddy  from  straying 
to  any  other  nest,  or  any  other  hen  trying  to 
take  her  nest;  and,  lastly,  it  is  a  safe  play- 
ground for  the  babies,  if  they  should  escape 
from  the  nest  during  the  first  forty-six  hours; 
for  such  tiny  mites  can  easily  get  lost. 

Before  setting  the  hen  she  is  held  by  the  feet, 
head  downwards,  and,  through  the  agency  of 
a  flour  dredger,  filled  with  insect  specific,  thor- 
oughly powdered;  and  twice  again,  during  the 
term  of  sitting,  she  is  taken  from  the  nest, 
after  dark,  and  dredged.  If  such  precautions 
are  not  taken,  the  bird  will  be  so  annoyed  that 
she  will  constantly  leave  the  nest  to  relieve  the 
irritation,  by  dusting  in  the  ashes  or  sand,  with 
which  the  floor  of  the  coop  is  covered.  These 
pests  of  fowls  and  bird  families  are  so  fero- 

251 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

cious  and  prolific  that  even  a  few  on  a  sitting 
hen  will,  if  neglected,  multiply  into  an  army 
by  the  time  the  chicks  are  out  of  the  eggs ;  and 
then  the  little  ones  are  infested  with  the  horrid 
things,  which  rob  them  of  health,  frequently 
becoming  the  unsuspected  cause  of  apparently 
mysterious  disease  and  death. 

If  the  weather  is  very  dry  and  hot  during 
the  time  of  incubation,  the  sod  is  sprinkled 
with  water,  once  a  week,  whilst  the  hen  is  off 
feeding.  When  the  term  of  incubation  is  al- 
most completed,  two  guinea  fowl  eggs  are 
boiled  hard  and  slipped  into  the  nest,  to  keep 
Biddy  still  for  a  few  extra  hours,  after  the 
quail  eggs  are  hatched,  which  insures  the 
babies  being  thoroughly  dry  before  leaving 
the  nest,  and  gives  them  strength  before  ex- 
ercising or  eating. 

The  birds  require  no  food  for  thirty-six 
hours  after  hatching,  because  the  yolk  is  ab- 
sorbed before  the  shell  breaks,  and  must  be 
assimilated  before  other  food  is  taken,  or  the 
digestive  organs  are  overtaxed.  Ignorance 

252 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

of  this  fact,  amongst  amateur  poultry  keep- 
ers, is  the  principal  cause  of  failure  with  in- 
cubator chicks. 

When  the  hatch  is  over  the  broken  shells  and 
the  guinea  eggs  are  removed  from  the  nest, 
but  Biddy  and  her  family  are  not  moved  to 
the  brood  coop  until  the  third  day.  The  brood 
coop  has  an  inclosed  yard  three  feet  long  and 
one  foot  high  attached  to  the  front  of  it. 
Sides,  front,  and  top  are  of  five-inch  poultry 
netting;  the  floor,  matched  boards,  covered 
with  sweeping  from  the  haymow. 

After  two  weeks  mother  and  babies  are 
moved  into  an  inclosure — usually  about  12  X  6 
feet,  with  a  coop  for  night  use — where  they 
remain  for  a  month  or  six  weeks. 

FEEDING 

As  insects  appear  to  predominate  in  the 
nestlings  diet  under  natural  conditions,  we 
attempt  to  provide  them  for  the  first  few 
day,  at  least,  though  breeding  maggot  things, 

253 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

for  the  first  young  pheasants  we  ever  reared 
was  such  a  revoltingly  nasty  proceeding  that, 
if  the  natural  supply  is  scant,  or  difficult  to 
find,  the  game  babies,  one  and  all,  have  to  put 
up  with  home-manufactured  substitutes. 

Mr.  Fred's  youngest  boy  announced,  when 
quite  little,  that  he  was  going  to  be  a 
"  buggist "  when  he  grew  big;  and,  as  he 
really  did  like  hunting  bugs  and  caterpillars, 
he  entered  into  an  agreement  to  collect  plant 
insects  and  sell  them  to  me  for  two  cents  a 
pint.  It  was  truly  surprising  the  number  and 
variety  of  goods  the  "  buggist "  could  collect, 
by  means  of  a  long  cheese-cloth  bag  and  a 
whisk  broom.  The  bill,  which  was  presented 
every  Saturday  evening  during  the  season, 
often  amounted  to  twenty-five  cents.  After 
bringing  the  catch  to  some  of  us  grown  folks 
to  estimate  the  quantity,  the  "  buggist "  went 
the  rounds  of  the  little  cannibals'  inclosures, 
liberating  a  few  of  the  dainties  amongst  each 
clutch.  According  to  his  report,  the  minute 
creatures  collected  from  the  wild  blackberry 

254 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

and  raspberry  canes,  tent  caterpillars,  grubs 
from  old  wood,  ants,  and  all  sorts  of  insects' 
eggs  were  preferred. 

The  regular  diet  for  the  first  few  days  con- 
sists of  custard,  made  by  beating  two  eggs  to 
a  froth,  pouring  them  slowly  into  three  pints 
of  milk  as  it  reached  boiling  point,  stirring 
constantly  to  prevent  burning  and  cooking 
until  almost  firm.  When  cool,  half  a  table- 
spoonful  is  crumbled,  mixed  with  the  same 
quantity  of  boiled  rice,  and  constitutes  a  feed 
for  the  babies.  "  Little  and  often  "  being  the 
only  safe  plan  to  pursue,  they  are  fed  five 
times  between  5.30  A.M.  and  4.30  P.M.  Never 
being  overfed,  they  amuse  themselves  by 
scratching  and  picking  amongst  the  hay 
sweepings  on  the  floor  of  the  coop,  to  find 
small  seeds,  which  furnished  sufficient  dry  ma- 
terial to  balance  the  rations. 

After  the  third  day  custard  dwindles  to  one 
feed  a  day,  curds  (pot  cheese)  being  used  in 
its  place.  Liver,  which  has  been  thrown  into 
scalding  water  and  left  for  a  few  minutes,  is 

255 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

chopped  finely  and  fed  once  every  day — at  first 
not  more  than  a  tablesoonful  to  a  clutch — 
about  noontime.  Curds  can  form  a  separate 
meal,  or  be  mixed  with  millet,  pinhead  oat- 
meal, or  cracked  hemp  seed.  Just  a  pinch  of 
poppy  and  mustard  seed  are  mixed  with  other 
things  once  a  week.  Plantain  and  groundsel 
are  gathered  and  utilized  for  lunches.  Chopped 
onions  or  garlic  enter  into  the  rations  for  all 
young  poultry  and  birds,  as  we  consider  it  a 
panacea  for  several  chick  ailments,  chief  of 
which  is  gapes.  Small  fruits,  chopped  apple, 
and  lettuce  are  all  eaten  greedily.  After  the 
fourth  week  three  meals  are  given — cracked 
wheat,  corn,  barley,  hulled  oats;  in  fact,  al- 
most anything  which  constitutes  variety,  which 
is  the  spice  of  life  that  seems  to  promote  the 
health  of  all  young  birds,  and  is  absolutely  in- 
dispensable for  the  semi-wild  ones,  like  pheas- 
ants and  quail. 

We  have  only  had  experience  with  the  Bob- 
white  variety,  but,  according  to  recent  reports 
from  reliable  people,  the  ruffed  grouse  can 

256 


o 
Q 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

also  be  reared  and  kept  in  captivity,  and  must 
be  very  interesting  birds  to  study,  with  their 
habit  of  ruffling  their  plumage,  which  has 
given  them  their  name. 

Then  there  is  the  puzzle  of  the  drumming  to 
solve.  Exactly  what  part  of  the  bird's  body 
the  sound  proceeds  from  has  been  a  much  dis- 
puted point  with  naturalists.  Some  declared 
that  it  was  vocal;  others  that  the  wings,  strik- 
ing hollow  logs,  caused  it.  Recent  investiga- 
tion seems  to  indorse  Professor  Brewster's  de- 
scription, written  for  the  American  Sports- 
man in  1874,  which  I  quote  for  the  benefit  of 
those  who  may  never  have  heard  the  sound. 

"  I  followed  his  direction,  and  soon  espied 
the  object  of  my  search  standing  on  the  edge 
of  a  huge  log,  with  his  feathers  ruffed  up, 
and  looking  very  disconsolate  indeed.  I  ap- 
proached cautiously  to  within  about  twelve 
feet,  and  sat  down.  For  a  few  minutes  he 
stared  at  me  stupidly  with  outstretched  neck, 
then  resumed  his  indolent  attitude.  At  length, 
when  I  had  become  nearly  tired  of  waiting, 

257 


he  suddenly  raised  himself  erect,  and  his  whole 
bearing  instantly  changed.  His  tail  ex- 
panded, his  crest  and  ruff  raised,  he  presented 
a  most  elegant  appearance  as  he  walked  (I 
should  not  call  it  '  strutting ')  along  the  edge 
with  a  slow  and  dignified  step,  taking  up  and 
putting  down  his  feet  as  you  have  seen  a  do- 
mestic fowl  do  on  a  wet  day.  Suddenly  he 
paused,  and  sitting  down  on  his  rump  and 
tarsi,  crosswise  on  the  log,  with  the  tail  slightly 
expanded  and  hanging  down  loosely  over  the 
edge  behind,  with  body  perpendicular,  neck 
stretched  to  its  full  length  and  feathers  drawn 
closely  to  the  body,  he  stretched  out  his  wings 
stiffly  at  right  angles  with  the  body.  In  this 
attitude  he  remained  several  seconds,  and  I 
was  instantly  reminded  most  forcibly  of  the 
pictures  one  sees  of  that  singular  family  of 
birds,  the  penguins.  Now  the  wings  were 
drawn  slightly  back,  a  quick  stroke  given  for- 
ward at  the  air,  and  a  pulsating  throb,  entirely 
different  from  any  sound  I  have  ever  heard, 
struck  my  ear,  producing  at  such  short  range 

258 


THE   EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

an  almost  painful  sensation  on  the  drum;  the 
wings  were  immediately  recovered,  and  an- 
other stroke,  a  trifle  quicker  than  the  first,  was 
succeeded  by  another  quicker  still,  until  the 
wings  vibrated  too  fast  to  be  followed  by  the 
eye,  producing  the  well-known  terminal  '  roll 
of  muffled  thunder/  and  not  till  then  the 
'  semicircular  haze.'  I  say  not  till  then,  for 
the  first  two  or  three  strokes  could  be  distinctly 
followed  by  the  eye.  This  over,  the  bird  im- 
mediately rose  to  its  feet,  shook  its  feathers 
with  an  air  of  relief,  and  resumed  its  attitude 
of  repose. 

"  I  think  the  drumming  of  the  ruffed  grouse 
is  produced  by  the  forward  beats  of  the  stiff- 
ened wings  on  the  air,  the  planes  of  their  mo- 
tion being  nearly  horizontal,  about  four  inches 
in  length,  with  the  initial  ends  represented  by 
the  points  of  a  wire  passed  through  the  center 
of  the  erect  body,  from  side  to  side." 

Another  game  bird  which  is  easily  domesti- 
cated is  the  wild  duck.  A  friend  who  stayed 
with  us  one  summer,  whilst  wandering  about 

259 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

on  a  marshy  strip  of  land  the  other  side  of  the 
woods,  returned  with  a  much-mutilated  duck 
in  one  hand  and  six  eggs  in  his  hat.  Of  course 
it  was  against  the  game  laws  to  keep  the  eggs, 
but  as  the  mother  bird  was  lying  dead  close  by 
the  nest,  our  friend  thought  it  no  crime  to 
bring  the  eggs  home.  I  set  them  under  a 
broody  hen;  then  drove  to  the  game  warden's, 
showed  hun  the  dead  bird,  explained  how  she 
had  been  found,  and  gained  his  absolution. 

In  twenty-three  days  the  eggs  hatched,  and 
the  ducklings  were  as  strong  and  contented 
with  the  hen  mother  as  a  brood  of  Pekins 
would  have  been.  At  first  they  had  the  same 
custard  and  rice  feed  as  the  other  young  game 
birds,  supplemented  by  water  from  the  marshy 
land.  A  pan  was  sunk  in  the  ground,  near 
the  brood  coop,  and  filled  up  at  each  feeding 
time.  A  fresh  supply  being  fetched  up  night 
and  morning,  it  contained  innumerable  water 
creatures  and  some  duckweed,  which  the  little 
fellows  devoured  eagerly. 

The  hen  was  kept  imprisoned  in  the  brood 
260 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

coop  for  two  weeks,  after  which  she  was  al- 
lowed to  walk  out  on  the  lawn  with  her  charges 
from  9  A.M.  to  4  P.M.  Being  an  old  hen,  with 
strong  maternal  instincts,  she  continued  to 
brood  the  foster  family  for  eight  weeks. 
After  that  we  made  a  cage-like  inclosure  of 
wire  netting  at  the  end  of  the  orchard,  and 
extended  it  into  the  river,  put  a  rough  shelter 
at  one  corner  and  imprisoned  one  pair  of  birds. 
In  the  marshy  land,  much  farther  from  the 
house  and  farm  buildings,  another  inclosure 
was  made,  six  feet  high,  but  having  no  wire 
over  the  top,  as  we  wanted  to  try  the  experi- 
ment of  allowing  the  birds  their  liberty  when 
old  enough  to  safely  protect  themselves.  Be- 
fore they  attempted  flight  a  natural  wild  duck 
was  discovered  in  the  yard  one  morning.  At- 
tracted by  the  cry  of  the  young  ones,  it  had 
evidently  flown  in  over  the  top  of  the  wire 
netting,  which  had  confused  and  prevented  its 
escape,  for  the  poor  thing  was  lying,  half 
stunned,  in  a  corner.  It  was  captured  and 
transferred  to  the  inclosure  in  the  orchard, 

261 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

where  it  soon  became  nearly  as  tame  as  the 
others. 

Late  in  the  season  the  young  duck  was  re- 
moved, leaving  the  farm-raised  drake  with 
the  wild  duck.  They  were  not  allowed  their 
liberty  until  the  next  spring,  and  subse- 
quently they  nested  in  the  old  winter  shelter, 
rearing  their  brood  without  any  assistance 
from  us. 

The  wire  was  entirely  removed  from  around 
the  shelter  in  the  marshy  land  early  in  the  fall, 
but  one  feed  a  day  was  still  provided.  The 
birds  became  friendly  with  others  of  their 
kind,  and  at  one  time  we  thought  they  had  de- 
serted us,  but  in  the  early  spring  they  returned 
to  the  old  feeding  ground,  accompanied  by 
several  wild  birds. 

Stealthy  watching  and  hunting  revealed 
eight  nests  that  year.  Eighteen  eggs  were 
stolen  in  all  and  set  under  two  hens,  and  six- 
teen young  ones  raised.  Eight  were  sold  for 
$10  a  pair  to  a  gentleman  who  owned  a  large 
estate  in  Rockland  County,  and  desired  to 

262 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

establish  a  breeding  ground  on  marshy  land 
near  a  lake. 

The  demand  for  live  birds  has  outstripped 
our  capacity  each  year,  so  I  am  sure  anyone 
going  seriously  into  the  business  will  find  it 
very  profitable. 


263 


CHAPTER   TEN 

GOATS 

SEVERAL  fields  desirably  situated  for  crops 
had  become  overgrown  with  brush  during  the 
years  they  had  lain  fallow  and  as  it  soon  be- 
came apparent  that  we  should  require  them  in 
the  near  future,  the  most  expedient  and  inex- 
pensive way  of  clearing  them  became  a  matter 
for  cogitation.  Fire  was  too  dangerous,  sur- 
rounded by  woods  as  we  were.  Building  the 
large  silo  and  a  new  poultry  house  was  sched- 
uled for  fall  work,  so  the  farm  staff  would 
not  have  any  slack  time  that  year.  Day  labor 
was  not  to  be  had  for  love  or  money,  because 
the  city  water  company  had  corraled  every 
unattached  man  to  aid  in  the  construction  of 
a  chain  of  walls  which  were  required  to  supply 
the  new  reservoirs.  I  do  not  remember  what 
first  suggested  goats  for  the  work,  though  we 

264 


had  often  talked  vaguely  about  adding  An- 
goras to  the  farm  menagerie  some  day,  hav- 
ing acquired  a  knowledge  of  the  mohair  market 
from  South  African  papers,  which  a  friend  of 
the  old  wandering  days  still  sent  us  every 
week.  Then  there  was  the  memory  of  lunches 
amid  the  picturesque  scenery  of  Norway, 
where  a  fondness  for  Molkenkase  cheese  had 
been  acquired.  But  as  woodsmen  the  useful 
little  animals  had  never  come  under  our  obser- 
vation. However,  from  some  source  the  idea 
had  evidently  been  conceived,  and  we  deter- 
mined to  test  its  practicability.  As  Reika  had 
drifted  to  us  from  the  settlement  of  foreigners 
set  in  the  woods  some  twelve  miles  back  from 
the  railroad,  we  consulted  her  on  the  possibility 
of  finding  any  in  the  neighborhood,  to  dis- 
cover, as  we  hoped,  that  they  were  kept  al- 
most universally  in  the  settlement  instead  of 
cows.  Being  curious  to  see  the  collection  of 
primitive  foreigners,  of  which  we  had  heard 
such  odd  accounts,  the  Master  Man  and  I  de- 
cided to  pursue  the  goat  quest  personally. 

265 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

Two  strong  crates  were  securely  fastened  into 
the  spring  wagon,  and  we  started  off  in  true 
farm  style.  After  the  first  two  miles  the 
travel  was  entirely  through  heavy-timbered 
woods,  until  the  few  shanties  which  consti- 
tuted the  settlement  were  reached.  More  for- 
lorn homes  could  hardly  be  conceived.  Even 
the  patches  of  grapevines  and  vegetables  scat- 
tered between  the  stumps  of  trees  long  since 
felled  only  accentuated  the  general  desolation 
of  the  place.  But  as  there  were  several  goats 
and  women  staring  in  wide-eyed  astonishment 
at  us,  we  postponed  our  quizzical  inspection 
of  their  homes,  drew  rein  and  attempted  to 
explain  our  presence.  The  dear  Master  Man, 
who  spoke  French  and  Italian  with  colloquial 
fluency,  was  quite  unable  to  make  anyone 
understand,  though  they  commenced  to  chat- 
ter violently  among  themselves  in  provincial 
patois.  The  confab  terminated  in  a  shrill 
voice  yelling  an  extraordinary  name  full  of 
"k's"  and  "c's,"  which  brought  a  small 
tousle-headed  urchin,  with  sharp  features  and 

266 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

soulful  eyes,  from  some  unseen  retreat  to  act 
as  interpreter.  Even  then  signs  and  many  of 
Reika's  idioms  had  to  be  resorted  to  before 
the  barter  of  two  five-dollar  bills  for  two 
scraggy  goats  was  concluded.  We  subse- 
quently learned  that  the  colony  had  been 
originally  gathered  together  by  an  old  Nor- 
wegian who,  after  becoming  prosperous  and 
acquiring  large  contracts  for  felling  timber, 
had  collected  waifs  and  strays  at  the  emigrant 
office  in  New  York,  regardless  of  nationality 
so  long  as  they  were  woodsmen.  At  first,  he 
boarded  them  in  a  large  shanty,  subsequently 
selling  to  the  best  workers  strips  of  land  on 
which  to  put  up  shanties  of  their  own  out  of 
any  old  material  he  happened  to  have  bought 
cheap.  After  which  the  pious  old  rogue  ad- 
vanced money  to  bring  wife  or  sweetheart,  as 
the  case  might  be,  from  the  old  country,  and 
by  such  benevolent  usury  bound  the  poor 
wretches  to  lives  of  hard  work,  poor  pay,  and 
slavish  obedience,  which  savored  more  of  a 
Tolstoi  novel  than  of  real  everyday  life  in  a 

267 


THE   EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

country  place  not  forty  miles  from  New  York 
City. 

But  to  return  to  the  two  scraggy  goats  the 
settlement  had  furnished  us  with.  They  were 
pure  white,  but  of  a  nondescript  breed,  as  per- 
tinacious as  most  ill-kept  animals,  and  pos- 
sessed an  appetite  able  to  destroy  incredible 
quantities  of  brush.  They  were  neither  of 
them  giving  milk  when  we  bought  them,  but  of 
course  that  had  not  been  taken  into  considera- 
tion. When  their  kids  arrived,  and  Reika 
owned  to  a  knowledge  of  making  Molken- 
kase  and  Mont  D'Or  cheese,  we  became  in- 
terested in  the  amount  and  quality.  Number 
One  had  two  kids,  and  seven  days  later  Num- 
ber Two  had  one,  all  of  which  were  weaned 
when  five  weeks  old,  when  we  were  able  to 
measure  and  test  the  milk.  Number  One  gave 
five  pints  a  day,  Number  Two  three  pints  and 
a  half;  rather  poor  in  quality,  which  was  due 
to  the  nature  of  their  food  during  the  preced- 
ing fifteen  weeks,  so  the  brush  was  supple- 
mented by  a  quart  of  mash  every  night,  which 

268 


32 

a 
o 

Q 


THE   EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

materially  increased  the  richness  of  the  milk 
and  enabled  Reika  to  make  the  coveted  cheese, 
which  was  indirectly  the  cause  of  our  realizing 
the  marketable  value  of  goat's  milk.  Among 
old  friends  who  often  came  for  week-end  visits 
was  a  doctor  from  the  city.  One  day,  Molken- 
kase  being  on  the  table,  brought  up  the  sub- 
ject of  goats  and  the  value  of  their  milk  for 
invalids  and  infants.  The  doctor  asked  us  if 
it  would  be  possible  for  us  to  let  him  have  one 
quart  a  day,  for  a  baby  patient  in  which  he 
felt  specially  interested.  As  we  shipped  eggs 
every  day  it  was  quite  possible,  and  within  a 
week  he  wrote  enthusiastic  thanks  to  our  goat 
for  saving  the  little  sufferer's  life,  and  begged 
us  to  make  some  business  arrangement  about 
supplying  it  for  an  indefinite  time,  and  for 
other  cases  which  might  arise  in  the  future. 
As  the  little  patient  was  under  the  care  of  a 
grandmother  not  overburdened  with  wealth, 
we  preferred  to  add  the  express  charges  to 
incidental  expenses  on  the  ledger,  but  agreed 
to  supply  future  customers  at  twenty-five 

269 


THE   EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

cents  a  quart.  As  nearly  as  we  could  esti- 
mate, the  two  original  goats  earned  $10  as 
brush-destroyers  during  the  first  six  months, 
rearing  three  kids,  value  at  least  $9,  and  in 
fifteen  weeks  after  the  kids  were  weaned,  gave 
us  somewhere  about  400  quarts  of  milk,  which, 
even  at  five  cents  a  quart,  would  add  another 
$20  to  their  credit.  Two  quarts  of  mash  at 
night  for  fifteen  weeks  might  have  cost  $3, 
but  certainly  not  more.  Such  returns  were 
unquestionably  good,  and  having  once  become 
interested  in  the  animals  we  sent  for  several 
books,  and  subscribed  to  a  paper  devoting 
space  to  goats,  with  the  result  that  Angoras 
and  mohair  became  a  household  theme.  Hav- 
ing business  at  the  Saint  Louis  live-stock 
show,  I  was  enabled  to  see  several  specimens 
of  the  breed,  and  returned  home  resolved  to 
acquire  Angoras  or  banish  goats  from  the 
farm.  Matters  of  immediate  importance 
claimed  my  attention  for  some  time,  which 
was  fortunate,  for  the  hasty  resolve  might 
have  caused  rash  extravagance,  as  Angoras 

270 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

are  expensive  animals.  But  practical  common 
sense  asserted  itself  after  the  first  glamour  of 
admiration  faded,  and  instead  of  abolishing 
the  useful  animals  we  already  owned  and 
crippling  our  exchequer  to  establish  a  herd  of 
the  coveted  creatures,  we  concluded  to  pur- 
chase a  buck  and  gradually  build  up  on  our 
existing  possessions.  After  much  correspond- 
ence, a  gentleman  of  good  family,  fifteen 
months  old,  with  silky  hair,  became  ours  for 
$80.  We  had  six  females  by  that  time,  all 
nice,  healthy  animals,  and  through  my  fond- 
ness for  white,  they  had  all  been  chosen  to 
gratify  it.  The  buck  arrived  in  September, 
and  by  the  following  April  there  were  ten 
kids,  the  result  of  the  first  cross,  six  being 
females,  which  we  kept  for  stock.  Of  the  five 
males  one  died,  and  four  were  sold  when  two 
months  old  for  $3  each.  It  takes  five  genera- 
tions— when  a  pure-blooded  buck  is  the  sire 
of  each — to  banish  all  trace  of  maternal  an- 
cestry, and  cannot  be  accomplished  in  less  than 
four  years;  at  least  it  took  that  length  of  time 

271 


on  our  place,  and  we  took  advantage  of  every 
possibility  to  reach  the  goal.  After  the  sec- 
ond generation  the  original  buck  was  sold,  and 
one  from  an  entirely  different  strain  bought, 
as  we  feared  to  risk  in-breeding  further  than 
that.  And  again  after  the  fifth  generation  a 
change  was  made.  Of  course  the  returns 
had  been  growing  larger  each  year  during  the 
process  of  grading-up.  After  the  first  litter 
the  males  were  kept  instead  of  being  sold  as 
kids.  Then  each  generation  was  sold  after 
their  second  lot  of  kids  were  weaned.  And 
the  annual  shearing,  with  the  increasing  num- 
ber of  does  and  wethers,  commenced  to  be  of 
marketable  value  after  the  third  generation. 
Milk  we  made  no  attempt  to  sell,  for  having 
discovered  its  beneficial  effect  on  infants  and 
delicate  animals,  it  seemed  unwise  to  sell  the 
small  quantity  we  had,  when  all  the  kids  were 
kept,  even  at  twenty-five  cents  a  quart.  So, 
during  the  term  of  transition,  cash  returns  did 
little  more  than  pay  for  care  and  winter  food, 
the  real  profit  being  in  the  amount  of  land 

272 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

cleared  and  fertilizer  distributed.  The  eigh- 
teen acres  of  brush  on  which  they  were  kept 
for  the  first  two  years  having  the  fourth  year 
brought  in  a  clear  profit  of  $1,800,  the  area 
of  the  pasture  had  been  greatly  enlarged  by 
their  agency,  and  the  fourth  year  they  were 
utilized  to  demolish  sprouts  in  a  piece  of 
woods  selected  by  the  Master  Man  for  forestry 
experiments.  It  was  second-growth,  and  the 
trees  were  being  stunted  by  undergrowth, 
which  the  goats  demolished  with  much  gusto. 
We  did  not  fully  realize  the  superiority  of 
Angoras  until  shearing  time  of  the  fifth  year; 
then  the  length,  weight  and  luster  of  the  mo- 
hair gratified  our  pride,  and  subsequent  sales 
proved  more  practically  convincing  than  fifty 
blue  ribbons  that  our  herd  had  become  truly 
thoroughbred.  The  aggregate  weight  of 
fleeces  was  400  pounds,  and  the  cash  return 
$193.  Since  then  the  demand  for  hair  twelve 
inches  long  and  over  has  increased,  and  prices 
have  materially  improved.  In  1904  a  lady 
who  keeps  Angoras  received  $43  for  the  fleece 

273 


THE   EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

of  one  female  from  a  dealer  in  New  York 
who  always  sets  his  own  price.  The  actual 
return  was  $10  for  two  pounds,  $28  for  seven 
pounds,  and  $1  for  five  pounds.  The  same 
dealer  paid  the  Goat  and  Live-stock  Company 
of  Montana  $6.50  a  pound  for  twenty-two 
pounds  of  long  hair;  but,  of  course,  in  both 
cases  the  mohair  was  especially  long  and  fine, 
the  animals  which  produced  it  having  been 
bred  and  cared  for  under  the  supervision  of 
clever  and  experienced  owners.  But,  as  the 
Department  of  Commerce  and  Labor  re- 
ported in  1905,  four  of  the  leading  mills 
of  the  country  used  1,886,975  pounds  of 
domestic  mohair,  and  imported  1,174,935 
pounds,  it  shows  that  the  supply  does  not 
by  any  means  meet  the  demand.  Mohair  is 
a  chief  material  used  in  manufacturing  up- 
holstery plush,  imitation  Astrachan,  lap-robes, 
table  and  couch  covers,  wigs,  and  doubtless 
lots  of  things  I  don't  know  anything  about, 
so  can't  enumerate.  But  as  it  has  been  esti- 
mated that  4,184,492  yards  of  plush  had  been 

274 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

used  in  upholstering  railroad  cars  in  use  dur- 
ing 1904,  it  seems  as  if  that  material  alone 
would  consume  sufficient  mohair  to  encourage 
farmers  to  keep  small  herds.  About  their 
economic  value  as  land-clearers  there  are  many 
erroneous  ideas,  some  people — in  fact,  the  ma- 
jority— believing  that  the  poor  animal  has  to 
eat  the  entire  bulk  of  material  destroyed,  and 
are  therefore  skeptical  about  their  utility. 
True,  the  goats  are  naturally  browsers  rather 
than  grazers,  yet  their  efficacy  as  land-clearers 
lies  in  the  manner  of  browsing  rather  than 
in  the  quantity  consumed.  They  are  restless, 
energetic  creatures,  who  never  settle  down  to 
take  a  meal  in  one  place,  but  nibble  leaves  and 
sprouts  as  they  wander  about,  cropping  the 
young  growth  from  many  bushes  in  a  day. 
Plants  and  shrubs  depend  on  their  foliage 
for  air  and  much  of  their  sustenance.  Some 
species  will  succumb  after  one  season's  crop- 
ping, others  possess  sufficient  sap  and  root- 
strength  to  spring  the  following  year,  but  it 

is  only  a  final  struggle  which  exhausts  them 

275 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

by  the  end  of  the  second  season.  Of  course 
goats  cannot  be  turned  into  a  young  planta- 
tion or  fruit-garden  with  impunity,  even  if 
there  is  tender  brush  and  weeds  for  them  to 
attack,  for  with  the  perversity  of  all  living 
creatures,  they  are  sure  to  destroy  the  most 
highly-prized  specimens;  but  in  the  old  or- 
chards and  woods  where  trees  are  more  than 
twelve  inches  in  circumference,  it  is  quite  safe, 
and  they  will  perform  most  useful  work. 

ESTABLISHING  FLOCK 

If  the  desire  is  to  establish  an  Angora  goat 
farm,  to  the  exclusion  of  all  other  agriculture, 
a  large  tract  of  hilly  land,  weU  covered  with 
brush,  should  be  chosen.  From  fifty  to  one 
hundred  pure-blooded  animals  purchased  to 
start  with,  which  will  require  a  capital  of  sev- 
eral thousand  dollars,  and  involve  much  risk. 
If,  however,  the  general  farmer  desires  to 
abolish  brush,  primarily,  and  is  contented  to 
gradually  build  up  the  flock  to  a  production 

276 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

of  mohair,  the  course  we  pursued  is  the  most 
economical.  No  matter  what  sort  of  goats  are 
first  installed,  the  general  care  will  be  the  same, 
as  most  of  the  common  goats  found  in  coun- 
try districts  are  kept  by  foreigners  for  their 
milk.  It  is  advisable  to  buy  them  when  they 
are  with  kid,  for  then,  being  dry,  they  will 
cost  less,  and  do  the  work  of  clearing  just  as 
well.  As  with  all  strange  animals,  the  first 
point  is  to  become  friendly  with  them,  and 
accustom  them  to  associate  some  distinct  call 
with  food.  Such  training  is  best  accomplished 
when  confined  in  pens  or  a  yard.  If  the  goats 
all  come  from  one  flock,  and  are  in  the  habit 
of  herding  together,  they  can  be  left  loose  in 
one  enclosure,  but  if  they  are  strangers  to 
each  other,  they  must  be  tethered  at  unreach- 
able  distances  or  in  individual  pens  at  night. 
During  the  day,  until  accustomed  to  their 
new  surroundings,  have  them  led  out  sepa- 
rately on  to  the  land  you  desire  them  to  clear, 
and  tether  by  ropes  not  more  than  three  feet 
long,  to  avoid  their  getting  tangled  up  in  the 

277 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

brush.  Place  them  in  sight,  but  not  in  reach, 
of  each  other,  for  several  days.  Their  sta- 
tions must  be  changed  twice  or  thrice  a  day, 
or  they  will  not  be  contented.  If  the  brows- 
ing ground  is  fenced,  they  can  be  turned  loose 
after  a  few  days,  unless  any  one  shows  a  hos- 
tile spirit,  in  which  case  keep  it  on  chain  until 
it  evinces  a  desire  to  be  on  friendly  terms.  In 
selecting  a  ram,  choose  one  not  under  eighteen 
months,  nor  over  six  years  of  age.  Subse- 
quent males,  especially  the  one  who  is  to  head 
the  flock  after  it  has  become  pure  Angora, 
should  not  be  over  two  years  old,  because  by 
that  time  the  females  will  number  about  forty, 
and  there  will  be  no  necessity  to  change  the 
sire,  for  if  you  desire  to  increase  the  flock, 
other  rams  will  have  to  be  kept  for  each  ad- 
ditional forty  or  fifty  females. 

The  age  of  goats  can  be  told  up  to  the  age 
of  four  years  by  their  teeth.  The  first  year 
they  are  barely  out  of  the  gums,  with  a  space 
between  each.  Second  year,  the  two  center 
teeth  are  much  larger  than  the  others,  and 

278 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

touch  each  other.  The  third  year  the  four 
center  teeth  are  of  equal  length,  and  touch. 
The  fourth  year  there  are  six  in  the  group; 
the  fifth  year  there  is  little  difference,  except 
that  the  end  teeth  on  each  side,  which  com- 
plete the  goat's  full  complement  of  eight, 
may  appear  a  little  longer  and  closer  together. 
The  goat's  best  years  for  breeding  are  from 
one  to  six,  and  the  average  length  of  life 
twelve  years.  The  ram  should  have  a  fairly 
good-sized  house  and  yard  for  his  exclusive 
use,  and  this  should  be  some  distance  from 
the  cows'  stable,  as  even  with  the  Angora 
breed,  whose  males  are  almost  exempt  from 
the  natural  and  objectionable  odor  which  the 
males  of  all  other  varieties  possess,  there  are 
seasons  of  the  year  when  it  is  sufficiently 
strong  to  taint  milk,  should  he  be  kept  in 
close  proximity  to  the  cows'  stable.  There 
is  a  belief  among  old-time  horsemen  that 
a  "  billy "  is  a  mascot  around  stables,  and 
though  it  may  only  be  an  old-fashioned  su- 
perstition, sprung  from  some  accident,  our 

279 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

Mr.  Fred  considered  it  as  unquestionable  as 
Holy  Writ,  so  the  ram  has  always  been 
stabled  with  the  horses,  and — well,  we  have 
never  had  a  sick  horse.  Perhaps  it  has  all 
been  chance,  perhaps  the  power  of  Mr.  Fred's 
faith,  but  an  empty  stall  is  easily  fitted  up 
for  the  gentleman,  and  the  companionship  of 
the  horses  and  stablemen  render  him  more 
friendly  than  he  otherwise  would  be,  if  con- 
demned to  solitary  confinement.  The  does 
were  housed  at  first  in  what  was  afterward 
made  into  a  sheepfold,  but  later  a  separate 
house  was  built,  35  feet  long,  20  feet  wide, 
10  feet  high  in  front,  and  7  in  back.  The 
peaked  roof  extended  one  foot  beyond  the 
back  wall,  and  12  feet  beyond  the  front  wall, 
so  making  a  cover  to  the  yard,  which  was 
boarded  half-wray  up  at  the  ends,  and  enclosed 
by  wire  netting  six  feet  high  across  the  front. 
Three  windows  were  placed  at  the  back  of  the 
house,  three  others  in  front,  and  a  small  one 
high  up  at  each  end.  The  interior  \vas  fitted 
with  pens  along  the  back,  each  a  little  over 

280 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

two  feet  wide  and  four  feet  long.  A  sus- 
pended iron  rack  for  hay  was  hung  to  lean 
down  over  the  box  manger,  into  which  fitted 
iron  pans  a  foot  square  and  deep,  for  feed 
and  water.  A  passage-way  two  feet  and  a 
half  wide  ran  between  the  back  of  the  house 
and  the  front  of  the  pens,  for  the  convenience 
of  the  feeder.  The  remainder  of  the  house 
was  left  in  one  compartment,  with  a  platform 
two  feet  wide  and  one  foot  high,  running  the 
entire  length.  The  floor  covered  with  con- 
crete and  drained  after  the  plan  used  in  cow- 
barns.  In  the  yard  there  was  a  rack  for  hay, 
troughs  for  feed  and  water,  and  a  box  for 
rock-salt.  The  ground  selected  was  shaly  and 
naturally  drained,  but  when  such  is  not  avail- 
able it  should  be  sub-drained,  and  the  soil  in 
the  yard  removed  to  a  depth  of  three  or  four 
feet,  and  replaced  with  cracked  stone,  topped 
with  coarse  gravel. 


281 


EARTH'S    BOUNTY, 


FEEDING 

From  April  to  November  goats  browse  from 
morning  until  night,  really  needing  no  other 
food  but  a  small  feed  at  supper  time.  Encour- 
age them  to  return  to  the  fold  at  night,  and 
save  much  trouble.  From  November  to  April 
the  food  is  to  be  regulated  by  condition.  If 
the  weather  remains  fine  and  dry  the  herd  can 
be  turned  out  in  the  morning  without  break- 
fast. But  as  nutritious  herbage  will  be  get- 
ting scarce,  supper  ceases  to  be  a  mere  decoy, 
and  hay  must  be  put  into  the  racks  and  oats 
into  the  feed  trough  in  the  yard,  in  the  pro- 
portion of  a  pound  and  a  half  of  hay  and  half 
a  pint  of  oats  per  head.  If  the  mornings  are 
damp  and  stormy-looking,  they  should  be  kept 
in,  and  receive  the  same  rations  as  at  night. 
If  the  day  clears  before  noon  let  them  out, 
but  if  discretion  counsels  their  being  kept  in 
the  yard,  they  must  receive  a  lunch  of  roots, 
pea  or  bean  haulm,  or  corn  stalks.  When  con- 
tinued bad  weather  necessitates  keeping  them 

282 


THE    EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

at  home  for  a  number  of  days,  variety  is  sup- 
plied at  lunch  time  by  very  small  quantities 
of  silage,  oak  leaves,  acorns,  and  horse-chest- 
nuts ;  these  three  last  being  collected  and  stored 
in  the  fall.  We  always  give  a  few  acorns  and 
horse-chestnuts  when  silage  is  first  fed,  as  they 
are  astringents  and  counteract  the  effect  which 
unaccustomed  grain  food  might  cause.  Trim- 
mings from  the  orchard  and  fruit  garden  will 
also  be  thankfully  received  by  the  prisoners. 
Goats  of  high  or  low  degree  are  most  fastidi- 
ous about  the  cleanliness  of  their  food,  and 
will  refuse  to  eat  turnips  or  other  roots  unless 
they  have  been  thoroughly  washed,  nor  will 
they  eat  hay  or  fodder  of  any  sort  which 
has  been  tainted  by  mud  or  the  stable  floor. 
Hence  the  necessity  for  racks  so  arranged  that 
the  contents  cannot  be  thrown  on  the  ground. 

INCREASING  FLOCK  AND  CARE  OF  THE  KIDS 

To  insure  strong,  full-sized  animals,  the  doe 
should  not  be  bred  until  she  is  one  year  old, 
though  at  the  commencement  of  grading  up 

283 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

our  flock  many  does  were  bred  when  only  nine 
months  old,  but  they  still  possessed  much  of 
the  blooded  plebeian  strength  of  their  mater- 
nal ancestors.  With  thoroughbreds,  whose 
progeny  must  come  up  to  standard  size  and 
weight,  it  is  safer  to  go  more  slowly.  Octo- 
ber and  November  are  the  best  months  for 
pairing,  because  from  the  end  of  February  to 
the  end  of  March  is  the  best  time  for  the  kids 
to  arrive,  as  the  farm  men  have  more  time  at 
that  season,  and  the  kids  will  have  time  to  de- 
velop sufficiently  to  go  on  range  with  the  flock 
in  April.  Moreover,  the  does  can  be  handled 
more  readily  at  shearing  time.  Both  ram  and 
does  should  receive  slightly  heavier  rations 
from  September.  Put  up  a  temporary  hurdle 
fence  to  divide  the  main  compartment  of  the 
house  and  yard;  place  the  wethers  on  one  side 
and  does  on  the  other.  Each  day  as  a  doe  re- 
turns from  ram's  stable  she  should  be  put  with 
the  wethers,  her  number  and  date  of  service 
recorded  for  future  reference,  and  two  or 
three  days  before  the  expiration  of  the  twenty- 

284 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

first  week,  she  is  to  be  put  into  One  of  the 
small  pens.  There  is  really  no  necessity  to  in- 
terfere with  natural  events,  but  after  the  kids 
arrive  some  persuasion  may  be  necessary  to 
induce  them  to  nurse.  Mother  and  babies  are 
kept  in  a  small  pen  three  or  four  days,  and 
then  turned  into  the  main  compartment  with 
free  access  to  the  yard,  unless  the  weather  hap- 
pens to  be  wet,  in  which  case  a  board  eighteen 
inches  high  is  put  across  the  opening,  which 
allows  the  does  to  go  out  if  they  wish,  but  re- 
tards the  babies.  Male  kids  should  receive  a 
veterinarian's  attention  before  they  are  three 
weeks  old,  for  the  sooner  they  are  "  trans- 
mogrified "  into  wethers  the  finer  will  be  their 
fleeces.  Males  to  be  retained  for  sale  as  ma- 
ture rams  must  not  remain  with  the  does  after 
they  are  five  months  old  under  any  circum- 
stances. We  anticipate  this  time  by  a  month 
or  six  weeks,  as  experience  has  convinced  us 
that  the  kids  are  just  as  strong  and  develop 
as  well  when  weaned  between  three  and  four 
months  old  as  later,  and  breeding  is  materially 

285 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

facilitated.  A  creep  like  those  used  for  the 
lambs  is  fixed  up  in  the  goat-house,  and  a  mix- 
ture of  bran  and  ground  oats  is  kept  in  a 
trough,  so  the  little  ones  can  run  in  and  out 
and  help  themselves.  Clover  hay  is  put  into  a 
basket  made  of  ordinary  two-inch  wire  netting, 
and  suspended  inside  the  creep.  The  amount 
which  disappears  before  the  babies  are  two 
months  old  is  convincing  proof  that  something 
more  than  the  maternal  supply  of  food  is  en- 
joyed and  required.  Kids  are  marked  on  the 
inner  side  of  the  left  ear  with  the  doe's  num- 
ber and  year;  on  the  right  ear  their  own  num- 
ber is  inscribed.  We  use  ordinary  marking 
ink  and  a  fine,  stubby  camel's-hair  brush.  The 
youngsters  will  pass  through  the  dangerous 
time  of  infancy  in  safety  if  they  are  guarded 
from  damp  and  allowed  plenty  of  light  and 
air,  but  this  same  rule  applies  to  goats  all 
through  their  lives.  Zero  weather,  if  bright 
and  dry,  is  positively  beneficial  to  them  after 
they  are  two  months  old,  but  rain  and  snow 
are  disastrous  to  health  and  fleece,  for  which 

286 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

reason  rough  shelters  should  be  provided  on 
the  browsing  ground  even  in  summer  time. 

THE   FLEECE,    MOHAIR,    AND   KEMP 

The  fleece  contains  two  distinct  materials: 
the  top  or  outside  growth  of  white  lustrous 
hair,  which  hangs  in  wavy  ringlets,  and  con- 
stitutes the  material  known  as  mohair,  under 
which  there  is  a  growth  of  short,  coarse  hair, 
technically  known  as  kemp.  Writers  on  the 
subject,  who  are  reliable  authorities,  assert 
that  kemp  is  the  result  of  cross-breeding  prac- 
ticed years  ago  in  Turkey.  A  gentleman  who 
had  many  years'  experience  with  goats  in  the 
vilayet  of  Angora  is  quoted  as  saying  that 
in  1863  there  was  hardly  a  perfectly  pure- 
blooded  goat  to  be  found,  and  ascribes  the 
reason  to  extensive  crossing  with  the  common 
Kurd  goat,  practiced  with  the  idea  of  meeting 
the  ever-growing  demand  for  mohair,  so  the 
first  long-haired  goats  brought  to  America  in 
1849,  must  have  borne  the  taint  of  plebeian 
blood,  mingled  with  Angora,  though  for  a 

287 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

long  time  they  were  supposed  to  be  Cashmere 
goats.  According  to  Israel  Diehl,  there  are 
several  breeds  of  goats  in  Turkey  which  have 
long  hair,  and  could  easily  be  mistaken  for 
Angoras;  he  describes  them  as  follows  in  the 
agricultural  report  of  1863,  in  which  he  wrote 
at  length  on  wool-bearing  goats  and  the  mis- 
taken classification  of  the  species  brought  to 
this  country  in  1849: 

'  There  is  also  a  second  or  other  variety  of 
Angora,  or  shawl  goat,  besides  those  gener- 
ally described.  This  goat  has  an  unchanging 
outer  cover  of  long,  coarse  hair,  between  the 
roots  of  which  comes  in  winter  an  undercoat 
of  downy  wool  that  is  naturally  thrown  off 
in  spring  or  is  carefully  combed  out  for  use. 
A  remarkably  fine  species  of  this  breed  exists 
throughout  the  area  to  which  the  white-haired 
goat  is  limited,  and  similar  breeds  prevail  all 
over  the  highlands  of  Turkish  and  Persian 
Armenia,  Koordistan,  and  at  Kirman;  and 
although  some  flocks  yield  finer  fleeces  than 
others,  it  is  called  the  same  wool  or  under- 

288 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

down  as  the  wool  of  Cashmere  and  Tibet,  and 
samples  of  the  wool  of  the  Tibetan  and  the 
double-wooled  goat  of  the  banks  of  the  Eux- 
ine  show  them  to  be  but  varieties  of  the  same 
species. 

"  This  goat  is  of  a  larger  size  than  those  of 
the  more  southern  Turkish  provinces,  and  its 
wool  is  finer,  and  is  the  variety  probably  in- 
troduced by  Doctor  Davis  from  Asia  Minor 
as  the  Cashmere,  and  now  erroneously  so-called 
throughout  the  country,  as  all  the  importations 
of  this  country,  as  far  as  we  can  learn,  were 
shipped  from  ports  on  the  Mediterranean  or 
Constantinople,  several  thousand  miles  from 
Cashmere  or  Tibet,  through  inhospitable  and 
almost  untraveled  countries  for  Europeans, 
which  goes  far  to  prove  the  so-called  *  Cash- 
mere '  goat  to  be  the  Angora." 

In  the  same  article  he  refers  to  the  true 
Cashmere  as  "  somewhat  smaller  than  the 
common  and  Angora  goat.  It  has  straight, 
round,  pointed  horns;  pendent  ears;  is  covered 
with  straight  and  falling  long,  fine,  flat,  silky 


hair,  with  an  undercoat  in  winter  of  a  delicate 
greenish  wool,  of  but  two  to  three  ounces  each, 
which  latter  alone  constitutes  the  fabric  from 
which  the  celebrated  shawls  are  made.  Ten 
goats  furnish  only  enough  for  a  shawl  l1/^ 
yards  square;  but  this  is  often  found  differ- 
ing  both  in  color  and  the  quality  of  the  wool, 
or  rather  the  fine  hair,  of  which  the  fleece  is 
composed.  The  principal  points  in  the  most 
approved  breeds  are  large  ears,  the  limbs  slen- 
der and  cleanly  formed,  the  horns  not  spirally 
twisted,  and,  above  all,  the  fleece  being  long, 
straight,  fleecy,  and  white." 

Of  the  Angora  he  writes: 

:<  The  Angora  goat,  and  more  especially  the 
varieties  it  has  produced,  are  probably  the 
most  valuable  of  all  the  goat  family,  and 
have  been  ably  described  by  Naturalists  Buf- 
fon,  Pennant,  Hasselquist,  and  travelers  as 
good-sized  animals,  generally  of  a  beautiful 
milk-white  color,  with  short  legs  and  wide- 
spreading,  spirally-twisted  horns.  The  wool 
is  described  as  a  very  beautiful  curled  or  wavy 

290 


THE    EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

hair  of  silvery  whiteness,  with  a  fine  downy 
wool  at  its  base,  and  this  hair  is  disposed  in 
long,  pendent,  spiral  ringlets  on  the  whole 
body.  The  horns  of  the  female,  instead  of 
spreading,  as  in  the  male,  turn  backward,  and 
are  much  shorter  in  proportion.  Those  of  the 
male  are  long,  spirally-twisted,  but  the  size 
and  direction  are  very  different  from  the 
common  goat,  being  generally  extended  from 
fifteen  to  thirty  inches  in  height  on  each  side 
of  the  head,  while  those  of  the  females  are 
near  the  ears.  The  hair,  or  wool,  often  sweeps 
to  the  ground,  and  is  usually  from  five  to 
twelve  inches  long,  especially  in  the  older 
bucks,  but  then  not  so  fine." 

All  of  which  data  seems  to  prove  that  kemp 
is  not  a  characteristic  of  the  true  Angora,  and 
that  the  systematic  culling  and  breeding  which 
has  been  exercised  recently  will  eventually  re- 
sult in  reestablishing  the  original  type  of 
Angora,  with  "fine,  downy  wool"  under  the 
mohair,  instead  of  the  coarse  growth  they  now 
have.  When  building  up  a  flock  from  com- 

291 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

mon  does,  it  is  imperative  to  select  white,  short, 
smooth-haired  animals.  We  had  one  doe  with 
shaggy  hair,  and  the  fleeces  of  her  progeny 
up  to  the  sixth  generation  were  twice  as  heavy 
with  kemp  as  those  of  smooth,  close-haired 
does.  The  second  and  third  generations  will 
appear  almost  perfect  Angoras  to  a  layman, 
but  when  shearing  time  comes  the  amount  of 
kemp  will  shatter  the  delusion,  as  the  relative 
quantity  of  kemp  and  mohair,  and  the  texture 
and  luster  of  the  latter  is  the  crucial  point, 
and  proclaims  the  animal's  ancestry.  Up  to 
the  third  generation  fleeces  will  possess  little 
value,  but  in  the  fourth  generation  mohair 
should  predominate,  increasing  and  improv- 
ing in  quality  with  each  succeeding  genera- 
tion if  the  herd  is  well  managed.  Sudden 
changes  of  climate  and  food  affect  the  tex- 
ture, so  these  must  be  avoided  as  much  as 
possible  by  providing  good  houses,  and  mak- 
ing the  necessary  changes  of  diet  in  spring 
and  fall  very  gradually.  Except  in  the  south- 
ern part  of  the  country,  shearing  is  done  in 

292 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

the  spring;  it  is  an  operation  needing  cour- 
age and  experience,  which  is  much  better 
gained  on  sheep,  as  they  are  still  and  gentle 
when  frightened,  which,  of  course,  all  poor 
creatures  are  under  such  unaccustomed  treat- 
ment. The  two  important  points  are  not  to 
hurt  the  animal,  or  cut  the  hair  more  than 
once.  The  nervous  and  inexperienced  man  is 
apt  to  take  two  or  more  "  snips  "  before  really 
severing  the  fleece,  which  materially  injures 
its  marketable  value;  length  being  even  more 
desirable  for  some  purposes  than  luster  or 
texture.  Having  sheep  as  well  as  goats  to 
shear,  we  bought  a  machine  for  the  work,  and 
found  it  a  great  saving,  both  in  this  respect 
and  time.  As  a  fleece  falls  from  a  goat  it 
should  be  rolled  up,  inside  out,  but  not  tied  or 
fastened  in  any  way.  In  the  South  shearing 
is  done  twice  a  year,  because  the  mild  climate 
is  apt  to  cause  shedding,  but  as  the  mohair 
cannot  gain  its  full  length  in  less  than  a  year, 
nothing  can  be  gained  by  adopting  the  custom 
in  this  part  of  the  country. 

293 


CHAPTER   ELEVEN 

THE   WOOD-LOTS 

LIKE  other  Philistines,  we  delighted  in  the 
beauty  of  the  woods  in  summer,  enjoyed  the 
warmth  and  cheering  companionship  of  the 
fires  we  ruthlessly  filched  from  them  in  winter, 
but  gave  no  thought  to  the  future  until  a 
pamphlet  issued  by  the  Bureau  of  Forestry 
showed  us  what  awful  ingrates  we  were. 
Being  only  tenants,  we  could  do  little  to  re- 
pair past  neglect  without  our  landlord's  per- 
mission. 

Therefore  I  determined  to  try  and  gain 
his  co-operation,  and  to  my  great  aston- 
ishment, found  he  had  received,  read,  and 
actually  approved  the  same  pamphlet  that 
aroused  us. 

Dear  old  gentleman,  it  appealed  to  him 
from  the  human  standpoint  of  duty  to 

294 


THE    EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

posterity,  so  in  spite  of  his  dislike  of  anything 
approaching  scientific  husbandry,  he  supple- 
mented our  lease  by  an  agreement,  giving  us 
full  power  to  cut  and  sell  wood  as  might  seem 
advisable,  the  money  from  such  sales  to  be  held 
in  trust  until  our  option  on  the  farm  expired. 
Then  if  we  failed  to  conclude  the  purchase,  it 
reverted  to  Mr.  E. 

Being  anxious  to  justify  his  trust  and  kind- 
ness, we  took  up  the  study  of  forestry  on  a 
most  elaborate  scale,  but  drifted  into  a  de- 
lightfully vacationy  sort  of  a  time. 

The  Master  Man  was  able  to  remain  home 
until  Christmas.  It  was  a  glorious  autumn,  and 
the  daily  tramps  through  the  woods,  in  search 
of  practical  information,  were  full  of  unexpec- 
ted interests.  Sometimes  it  was  only  a  rare 
fern,  or  a  bit  of  moss  for  our  wild  garden.  But 
of tener  it  was  a  glimpse  into  the  real  workaday 
lives  of  the  little  creatures  that  called  the 
woods  home.  The  fall  of  the  leaf  is  their 
summons  to  work,  and  natural  shyness  is  for- 
gotten as  they  hurry  about  preparing  for 

295 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

winter.  So  a  cautious,  watchful  human  can 
learn  more  of  their  actual  habits  at  that  sea- 
son of  the  year  than  at  any  other. 

Birds  and  animals  are  supposed  to  possess 
an  unerring  instinct  about  seasons;  yet  there 
were  many  babies  still  in  the  woods  who,  ac- 
cording to  all  natural  history  lore,  should 
have  been  born  in  the  spring  or  early  summer. 

One  day  we  found  a  belated  baby  squirrel, 
who  had  lost  his  mother  by  some  mischance, 
and  was  starving  to  death  because  his  teeth 
were  not  strong  enough  to  eat  the  hard  food 
which  surrounded  him.  Another  time,  a 
young  opossum,  who  had  been  shot  in  the 
shoulder;  then  two  half -fledged  monkey  owls. 
Of  course  all  such  waifs  and  strays  were  car- 
ried home,  and  in  time  became  pets. 

Day  after  day  we  return  home  buoy- 
antly happy,  and  as  hungry  as  hunters,  to 
enjoy  a  tea  of  home-grown  luxuries.  Then 
we  would  settle  down  before  a  big  open 
fire  to  study;  read  for  perhaps  an  hour;  strike 
#n  assertion  which  some  other  authorities  or  our 

296 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

own  observation  combated ;  drop  the  books,  and 
proceed  to  "  thresh  things  out,"  as  the  Master 
Man  used  to  call  amiable  argument. 

Talking  helped  us  to  unravel  lots  of  difficult 
technical  points,  and  did  not  interfere  with 
cooking  some  tidbit,  gypsy  fashion,  in  the  wood 
ashes,  for  the  late  supper  which  old  Bohemian 
habit  made  indispensable;  so  altogether  there 
was  more  homely  enjoyment  than  real  work 
about  our  study  hours. 

There  were  three  wood-lots  on  the  farm:  the 
largest  and  most  valuable  was  the  forty  acres 
of  real  old  forest  which  joined — or  rather  was 
part  of  —  hundreds  of  acres  known  as  the 
"Green  Woods."  Next  came  twenty  acres: 
trees  of  all  ages,  dividing  the  Wilbur  and 
Earl  homesteads.  Last,  thirty-two  acres  be- 
hind the  orchard;  saplings  and  second  growth. 
Besides  these  were  several  clusters  of  nut- 
trees,  scattered  about  between  meadows  and 
pastures,  the  majority  of  which  had  long  since 
passed  their  zenith,  and  were  deteriorating  in 
value  each  year. 

297 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

The  first  to  be  condemned  were  two  immense 
black  walnuts  which  stood  at  opposite  sides  of 
a  glen  that,  according  to  tradition,  had  been 
the  high  road  to  Boston  in  Revolutionary 
days.  They  were  splendid  old  veterans,  and 
it  seemed  positively  sacrilegious  for  puny, 
short-lived  human  creatures  to  ordain  their 
end. 

It  may  seem  absurd  for  a  prosaic  business 
woman  to  own  that  she  regards  old  trees  with 
a  feeling  of  awe ;  but  I  do,  and  have  done,  ever 
since  an  evening  in  early  childhood. 

My  father  had  undertaken  to  play  nurse  as 
well  as  courier  from  Paris  to  London,  because 
my  grandparents  wished  me  to  spend  Christmas 
with  them.  I  don't  remember  the  beginning  of 
the  journey  at  all,  but  after  arriving  at  Dieppe 
everything  is  vividly  clear.  A  severe  storm 
was  raging :  the  Channel  steamer  could  not  put 
out,  so  we  went  to  a  hotel,  and  for  the  first 
time  in  my  life  I  dined  with  my  father.  Din- 
ing by  gaslight  when  I  should  have  been  sound 
asleep  in  bed  made  me  feel  quite  grown  up  and 

298 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

very  grand,  until  the  dad  proposed  saying 
good-night  to  me  in  a  strange  room.  Then 
dignity  evaporated,  and  a  very  nervous,  small 
child  begged  for  a  story. 

The  dear  dad  was  never  very  good  at  fairy 
tales,  and  usually  responded  to  such  requests 
with  simplified  scraps  of  history  or  mythology. 
That  night,  the  storm,  and  the  wood  fire  burn- 
ing on  the  hearth,  must  have  turned  his 
thoughts  to  German  forest-lore,  for  he 
related  legend  after  legend,  not  realizing 
that  he  was  frightening  me  half  to  death, 
and  inculcating  ideas  that  would  last 
into  maturity.  But  so  it  was;  and  even  now, 
alone  in  the  woods,  when  the  trees  sigh  aloud, 
or  sitting  before  a  log  fire  that  hisses  and 
splutters,  I  invariably  find  myself  wondering 
what  special  kinds  of  spirits  are  clamoring  for 
pardon,  or  what  incarcerated  diabolicalness  is 
being  consumed. 

But  even  without  these  foolishly  supersti- 
tious ideas,  ancient  sentinels  such  as  these  wal- 
nuts would  have  claimed  regard.  They  looked 

299 


THE   EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

perfectly  sound,  but  examination  revealed  the 
presence  of  decay  that  had  started  at  the 
ground-level  and  was  creeping  up  the  centre 
of  the  trunks. 

One  firm  bought  the  first  twenty  feet  of 
each  trunk,  which  measured  respectively  six- 
teen and  eighteen  feet  in  circumference,  to  be 
cut  up  into  table-tops,  and  gave  three  hun- 
dred dollars  for  them.  The  large  limbs 
brought  another  hundred  and  four  dollars; 
after  which  there  was  a  lot  of  wood,  worth  at 
least  two  dollars  and  a  half  a  load. 

Felling,  tearing  up  the  stumps,  and  planting 
saplings  in  their  place,  we  estimated  had  cost 
five  dollars.  In  a  general  clearing-up  of  the 
"  Green  Woods  "  and  the  Wilbur-Earl  lots,  the 
following  marketable  material  was  removed: 

Two  hundred  and  twenty-two  first-class  ties 
at  seventy  cents  each;  seven  hundred  second- 
class  at  forty-five  cents  each;  six  thousand 
four  hundred  and  sixteen  first-class  posts  at 
twelve  cents  each;  one  thousand  six  hundred 
and  twenty  second-class  posts  at  seven  cents 

300 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

each,   and   a   supply   for   home   consumption 
which  lasted  into  the  third  year. 

The  orchard  lot  was  not  attacked  until  a 
year  later.  Brush  and  weeds  had  gained  a 
strong  footing,  so  we  turned  in  the  goats; 
then  thinned  out  the  sprouts  sufficiently  to 
allow  the  young  trees  to  develop.  The  cut- 
ting realized  twenty  loads  of  stove-wood, 
which  sold  at  two  dollars  per  load.  The  farm 
staff  did  much  of  the  work.  We  had  the  saw 
outfit,  so  there  is  the  usual  difficulty  about 
estimating  the  actual  cost  of  work,  except  ex- 
tra labor,  specially  employed,  which  was  two 
men  for  thirty  days,  at  a  dollar  and  a  half  a 
day  each,  during  the  first  year;  one  man  in 
the  orchard  lot  for  five  days  the  second  year. 
As  the  work  was  done  to  improve  the  future 
value  of  the  woods,  and  not  for  immediate 
profit,  we  were  more  than  satisfied  with  the 
results. 

THE   WORK   OF    IMPROVING 

Before  attempting  any  active  work,  the  con- 
ditions peculiar  to  woodland  growth   should 

301 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

be  understood,  or  it  will  be  impossible  to  avoid 
violating  some  of  the  laws  of  reciprocity  which 
nature  has  united  with  such  wonderful  accu- 
racy that  no  one  can  be  impaired  without 
injury  to  the  system  of  co-operation  which 
governs  the  entire  community.  Perhaps  the 
most  important,  and  certainly  the  most  dis- 
tinctively silvicultural  characteristic,  is  the  soil; 
or,  to  be  more  correct,  the  ground  cover. 
There  is  no  condition  quite  like  it  to  be  found 
outside  of  woodland  boundaries.  To  a  casual 
observer  it  is  only  a  deep  carpet  of  dead  leaves 
and  waste  material.  But  to  the  forester  it  is  a 
great  power,  to  which  deferential  considera- 
tion must  always  be  shown,  for  on  its  condi- 
tion depends  germination  of  seeds  and  the 
principal  food  supply  of  trees  throughout 
their  lives. 

Each  autumn,  when  trees  shed  their  leaves, 
a  fresh  mulch  is  spread  over  the  surface  of  the 
ground,  and  the  lower  layers  of  preceding 
years  progressively  succumb  to  age,  the  fleshy 
parts  melting  into  a  solutive  fertilizer  which 

302 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

liberates  and  holds  in  solution  the  several  min- 
eral compounds  of  the  soil  which  constitute 
plant  food.  The  fibrous  residue  of  stems  and 
veins  accumulates,  gradually  disintegrates,  and 
eventually  becomes  rich  loam. 

After  ground  cover,  general  tree  growth  and 
the  idiosyncracies  of  different  species  should 
be  understood.  The  majority  of  trees  can  be 
divided  into  two  classes:  tolerant  and  intoler- 
ant; which  means  that  some  species  can  en- 
dure heavy  shade  until  past  sapling  age, 
whilst  others  must  have  full  light  from  sap- 
ling age.  (Seedlings  of  both  classes  are  bene- 
fited by  partial  shade.)  According  to  the 
classification  made  by  the  Forest  Service, 
young  trees  are  seedlings  until  three  feet 
high;  small  saplings  until  ten  feet  high;  from 
then  until  they  reach  four  inches  in  diameter 
at  about  four  feet  from  the  ground,  large 
saplings. 

It  is  generally  safe  to  class  the  trees  which 
make  dense  top-growth  under  the  heading  of 
tolerant,  and  those  with  light  top-growth, 

303 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

through  which  the  sun  can  easily  penetrate, 
under  the  heading  of  intolerant.  But  there 
are  several  exceptions  to  this  general  rule. 
If  the  dense  crown  species  predominate  in 
mixed  woodlands,  the  coming  generation  will 
almost  surely  be  of  the  tolerant  class;  for 
the  seedlings  of  this  class  will  steadily  de- 
velop to  the  sapling  age,  and  even  if  retarded 
from  further  growth  by  want  of  space,  will 
sustain  no  vital  injury,  but  simply  remain  sta- 
tionary until  age  or  the  woodsman's  axe  clears 
the  way  for  them,  when  they  will  shoot  up 
vigorously. 

But  seedlings  of  the  intolerant  class 
would  pine  and  gradually  die,  or  at  least 
become  so  debilitated  that  they  could  not  avail 
themselves  of  favorable  conditions  when  they 
occurred.  As  an  example:  If  seedlings  of  cot- 
tonwood,  black  walnut,  white  pine  and  hemlock 
are  all  growing  in  close  proximity,  the  quick 
growth  of  the  first  two  species  would  make  so 
much  shade  that  the  pine  would  be  killed,  the 
hemlock  checked,  but  not  injured.  Later  a 

304 


a 
Q 


a 
a 

M 


a 
x 

H 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

duel  for  supremacy  would  commence  between 
the  cottonwood  and  the  walnut. 

A  tree  is  made  up  of  three  distinct  parts: 
roots,  trunk,  and  branches.  The  roots  gather 
food  from  the  soil,  which  travels  up  the  trunk 
to  the  leaves,  where  it  undergoes  a  sort  of  di- 
gestive process,  and  is  then  distributed  to  the 
different  parts  of  the  tree.  Growth  is,  or 
should  be,  made  simultaneously  in  three  direc- 
tions: height,  spread  of  branches,  and  circum- 
ference of  trunk  and  limbs.  Height  and 
spread  are  increased  by  the  new  growth  made 
each  season  at  the  extremities.  Circumference 
of  trunk  and  limbs  depends  on  a  glutinous  sub- 
stance which  travels  to  all  parts  of  the  tree,  be- 
tween the  real  wood  and  the  bark,  and  is  really 
composed  of  three  layers;  the  inner  and  outer 
ones  being  divided  by  a  tissue- forming  qual- 
ity, technically  called  the  cambium,  which  acts 
upon  the  inner  and  outer  substances,  turning 
the  inner  into  wood  and  the  outer  into  bark, 
so  adding  a  new  coat  to  each  every  season 
through  a  tree's  growing  years.  There  is  an- 

305 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

ample,  in  the  chestnut  and  in  most  conifers — 
they  are  so  fine  as  hardly  to  be  seen  with  the 
naked  eye.  Seasoning  cracks  which  run  across 
the  rings  of  growth  always  follow  the  lines  of 
these  rays,  while  others  most  often  follow 
along  some  annual  ring. 

"  It  is  correct  to  speak  of  these  rings  of 
growth  as  '  annual  rings,'  for  as  long  as  the 
tree  is  growing  healthily  a  ring  is  formed  each 
year.  It  is  true  that  two  false  rings  may  ap- 
pear in  one  year,  but  they  are  generally  so 
much  thinner  than  the  rings  on  each  side  that 
it  is  not  hard  to  detect  them.  Very  often  they 
do  not  extend  entirely  around  the  tree,  as  a 
true  ring  always  does  if  the  tree  is  sound. 
Whenever  the  growth  of  the  tree  is  inter- 
rupted and  begins  again  during  the  same  sea- 
son, such  a  false  ring  is  formed.  This  hap- 
pens when  the  foliage  is  destroyed  by  cater- 
pillars and  grows  again  in  the  same  season,  or 
when  a  very  severe  drought  in  early  summer 
stops  growth  for  a  time,  after  late  frosts,  and 
in  similar  cases. 

308 


H 

s 

•H 

9 

z 


Q 

o 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

"  An  annual  layer  once  formed  does  not 
change  in  size  or  place  during  the  healthy  life 
of  the  tree,  except  that  it  is  covered  in  time  by 
other,  younger  layers.  A  nail  driven  into  a 
tree  six  feet  from  the  ground  will  still  be  at  the 
same  height  after  it  is  buried  under  twenty  or 
fifty  or  one  hundred  layers  of  annual  growth, 
but  in  most  trees,  like  the  oaks  and  pines, 
the  wood  becomes  darker  in  color  and  harder 
after  it  has  been  in  the  tree  for  some  years, 
the  openings  of  its  cells  become  choked,  so 
that  the  sap  can  no  longer  run  through  them. 
From  living  sapwood,  in  which  growth  is  go- 
ing on,  it  becomes  heartwood,  which  is  dead, 
because  it  has  nothing  to  do  with  growth.  It 
is  simply  a  strong  framework  which  helps  to 
support  the  living  parts  of  the  tree.  This  is 
why  hollow  trees  may  flourish  and  bear  fruit. 

When  the  tree  is  cut  down,  the  sapwood  rots 
more  easily  than  the  heartwood,  because  it 
takes  up  water  readily  and  contains  plant  food, 
which  decays  very  fast.  Not  all  trees  have 

heartwood,  and  in  many  the  difference  in  color 

309 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

between  it  and  the  sapwood  is  very  slight. 
Since  water  from  the  roots  rises  only  in  the 
sapwood,  it  is  easy  to  kill  trees  with  heartwood 
by  girdling  them,  provided  all  the  sapwood  is 
cut  through.  But  in  those  which  have  no 
heartwood  the  tubes  of  the  older  layers  of 
wood  can  still  convey  water  to  the  crown,  and 
when  such  trees  are  girdled  it  is  often  several 
years  before  they  die." 

In  a  young  forest,  the  rapid  growth  of  tol- 
erant species  not  only  retards  and  overtops 
their  intolerant  cotemporaries,  but  in  time,  as 
their  own  branches  spread  and  come  in  close 
proximity,  they  lash  and  slash  each  other  every 
time  a  breeze  sways  the  trees.  Thus  the  young 
shoots  at  the  extremities  are  broken  off,  which 
checks  growth  in  that  direction,  and  stimulates 
it  in  the  trunk  and  upper  branches.  Over- 
shadowed by  the  increasing  topgrowth,  which 
robs  them  of  the  power  to  assimilate  food,  the 
lower  branches  gradually  die,  and  are  eventu- 
ally severed  from  the  trunk,  either  by  a  storm 
or  by  their  own  weight.  Then  the  annual  de- 

310 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY, 

posit  of  wood  and  bark  from  the  cambium 
heals  the  wound  in  the  trunk,  which  increases 
in  unbroken  circumference  many  feet  above 
the  ground.  It  is  this  natural  pruning  of  the 
lower  limbs  which  makes  forest  trees  so  much 
more  valuable  for  timber  than  segregated 
specimens  that  retain  all  their  branches,  and 
cause  the  annual  deposit  of  wood  to  be 
diverted  to  increase  the  limbs. 

Of  course,  volumes  and  volumes  have  been 
written  by  scientific  foresters  on  silvicultural 
laws,  and  the  foregoing  is  only  a  condensed 
summary  of  what  has  been  gleaned  from 
desultory  reading;  but  if  supplemented  by 
personal  observation  and  gumption,  it  may 
help  you  to  reason  out  some  of  the  whys  and 
wherefores  of  past  deterioration  and  of  the 
work  necessary  to  bring  about  improvement 
in  the  future.  Commercial  lumbering  has, 
of  course,  depleted  the  large  forests, 
but  the  farm  wood-lot  has  been  and  is 
being  ruined  by  the  farmers  themselves. 
A  mistaken  idea  of  thrift  permits  them  to 

311 


start  ground  fires  to  promote  the  growth  of 
grass  on  which  to  pasture  cattle;  the  argument 
being  that  ground  fires  only  burn  up  brush 
and  dead  rubbish,  and  do  not  injure  mature 
trees.  But  brush  must  necessarily  include 
seedlings,  and  even  saplings,  on  which  per- 
petuation depends.  Dead  rubbish  is  the 
ground  cover  on  which  trees  of  all  ages  de- 
pend for  their  principal  supply  of  food. 

Even  a  slothful  farmer,  who  just  turns  in 
cattle  to  browse  in  winter,  commits  a  ruinous 
blunder,  for  browsing  does  incalculable  in- 
jury to  coming  generations,  and  the  damage 
caused  by  trampling  and  sharp  hoofs  is  nearly 
as  destructive  to  the  ground  cover  as  fire.  So, 
all  things  considered,  pasturing  cattle  in  the 
woods  is  about  the  most  shiftless  proceeding 
which  can  be  perpetrated  in  husbandry.  • 

Want  of  judicious  selection  in  cutting  trees 
is  another  of  the  blunders  which  even  the  most 
elementary  knowledge  of  forestry  will  pre- 
vent. Since  being  enlightened,  our  plan  is 
first  to  consider  the  tree  as  a  unit.  Has  it 

312 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

reached  its  full  growth?  If  so,  it  should  be 
removed  before  it  deteriorates  in  value.  Sec- 
ond, what  is  its  value  to  its  neighbors?  If  they 
are  a  mixed  crowd  of  well-developed  but  still 
growing  trees,  it  is  cut  down  without  further 
consideration,  as  the  neighbors  will  soon 
spread  and  fill  the  space  left  by  its  removal. 
But  should  the  adjacent  growth  be  many  gen- 
erations younger,  it  is  allowed  to  remain,  be- 
cause its  removal  will  permit  too  much  sun  and 
air  to  reach  the  ground.  Moreover,  deprived 
of  the  annual  benediction  of  its  leaves,  the  soil 
would  cease  to  produce  the  amount  of  plant 
food  required  by  the  growing  crop. 

But  should  the  tree  under  consideration  be 
seriously  decayed,  species  has  to  be  taken  into 
consideration.  If  it  is  a  chestnut,  it  is  decapi- 
tated about  three  feet  above  the  ground,  the 
cut  being  made  diagonally  across  the  trunk, 
to  prevent  water  lodging  on  the  stump,  which 
would  cause  decay.  Such  a  chestnut  stump 
quickly  sends  up  a  goodly  stock  of  sprouts,  to 
furnish  shade  for  the  ground,  and  leaves  to 

313 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

fall  in  the  autumn.  But  if  the  veteran  should 
be  an  elm,  hickory,  or  walnut,  it  is  patched 
up,  if  possible,  with  concrete,  as  carefully  as 
if  it  were  an  orchard  tree.  All  trees,  irre- 
claimably  decayed  are  cut  down,  no  matter 
what  their  neighbors'  ages  may  be,  to  avoid 
the  damage  their  natural  downfall  would  be 
sure  to  inflict  on  others. 

On  several  occasions,  being  compelled 
to  remove  large  trees  when  there  was  no 
hope  of  the  space  being  quickly  filled  by  nat- 
ural growth,  we  have  transplanted  several 
large  saplings,  and  thinned  out  later. 

From  our  very  initiation,  the  nursery 
branch  of  forestry  has  been  a  pet  hobby.  It 
is  really  as  easy  to  grow  trees  as  to  grow 
vegetables;  and  the  joy  of  having  strong, 
well-shaped  specimens  of  the  species  best 
adapted  to  the  vicinity  and  the  purpose  for 
which  the  wood  is  to  be  ultimately  used,  is  un- 
questionable. 

•Marketing  nursery  stock  must  be  a  profit- 
able business,  for  though  we  never  made  any 

314 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

effort  to  sell,  the  requests  for  trees  were  so 
constant  that  at  one  time  we  contemplated 
going  into  the  business  extensively. 

Having  plenty  of  mature  trees  of  all  tKe 
species  we  desired,  we  have  always  gathered  our 
own  seed,  which  perhaps  accounts  for  the  good 
luck  we  have  had  in  this  branch  of  the  work; 
for  on  the  proper  treatment  of  the  different 
seeds  depends  the  germinating  power.  My 
first  attempt  was  with  catalpas.  We  had  one 
magnificent  tree  at  the  corner  of  .the  house, 
which  covered  nearly  half  the  roof.  It  was 
pur  joy  and  pride,  especially  in  June,  when  its 
exquisite  white  blossoms  perfumed  the  entire 
vicinity.  It  was  the  desire  to  have  an  avenue  of 
like  beauty  up  to  the  buildings  which  made  me 
think  of  trying  to  raise  young  ones  from  seed. 
LThe  first  year  I  collected  pods,  and  put  them  in 
paper  bags. 

Next  spring  many  of  the  seeds  were  mouldy 
and  useless.  About  fifty  were  planted  in  plots 
a  yard  square  and  about  a  yard  apart,  each  side 
of  the  drive.  Several  seeds  were  planted  in 

315 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

each  square.  Eleven  came  up.  Two  died  as 
seedlings ;  the  remaining  nine  had  a  sickly  child- 
hood. All  gave  up  the  struggle  for  existence 
by  the  end  of  the  year. 

Then  a  strip  of  sod  land  which  had  been  used 
for  potatoes  and  corn,  rape  and  rye,  in  success- 
ion, was  set  aside  as  an  experimental  nursery 
for  trees.  One-half  was  divided  into  three  seed 
beds,  and  three  given  over  to  transplanted 
seedlings,  home  grown,  and  collected  from  the 
woods.  Our  purpose  was  to  rear  trees  of  the 
species  we  wanted  for  a  wind-break  across  the 
new  chicken-house;  a  narrow  plantation  along 
the  bank  of  the  river,  where  trees  had  been 
ruthlessly  removed;  and  an  avenue  from  the 
house  to  the  barn  and  buildings.  For  the  second 
venture,  the  catalpa  seeds  were  removed  from 
the  pod,  spread  out  on  papers  in  the  light,  and 
when  dry,  tied  up  in  sugar  bags.  In  the 
spring  they  were  planted  two  inches  deep  and 
ten  inches  apart,  in  rows  two  feet  apart. 
Nearly  all  the  seeds  came  up,  so  we  thinned 
out  considerably.  The  bed  was  weeded  and 

316 


THE    EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

cultivated  all  through  the  season,  just  as  if 
the  plants  were  ordinary  vegetables,  with  two 
exceptions. 

Early  in  their  life  history,  the  seedlings 
commenced  to  die  out,  and  to  prevent  trans- 
planting into  another  bed,  a  layer  of  fine  sand 
was  scattered  over  the  ground,  and  drawn  up 
around  each  plant.  Catalpas  belong  to  the 
tolerant  class  of  trees,  and  as  the  bed  was  in 
the  open,  a  temporary  shade  was  erected  over 
them,  by  driving  stakes  into  the  ground, 
stretching  poultry  wire  over  them,  and  over 
that  cedar  boughs. 

Later,  we  adopted  the  hurdle  made  of  slats, 
recommended  by  the  government.  They  are 
just  rough  frames,  with  slats  and  equal  spaces 
alternated,  supported  on  posts  three  feet  high. 
The  following  spring,  when  the  seedlings  were 
one  year  old,  they  were  transplanted,  left  for 
two  years  and  then  set  out  in  their  permanent 
homes.  That  was  eight  years  ago.  They  now 
range  from  twelve  to  fifteen  feet  in  height. 

Cottonwoods  were  started  at  the  same  time, 
317 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

and  cultivated  in  the  same  way,  except  that 
they  were  thoroughly  drenched  with  water 
three  times  a  week  during  July  and  August, 
when  the  weather  happened  to  be  very  dry. 
The  seeds  did  not  germinate  as  well  as  the 
catalpa,  but  the  seedlings  were  strong,  and 
grew  very  quickly.  When  two  years  old,  they 
were  transplanted  to  a  low  pasture  ground, 
where  we  desired  to  establish  shade  for  cattle. 
Several  died,  but  as  they  had  been  planted  in 
groups,  it  only  saved  thinning.  Those  which 
did  survive  are  now  about  twenty-three  feet 
high.  Cottonwood  is  not  of  much  value,  but 
it  makes  extremely  quick  growth  in  moist 
land,  and  I  believe  has  a  marketable  value  for 
barrels  and  packing  boxes. 

Black  walnut,  hickory,  and  butternut  were 
the  predominating  species  in  the  home  woods, 
so  we  hunted  out  specimens  three  or  four  years 
old,  but  not  being  sure  of  the  result,  seeds 
were  collected  in  the  fall,  and  wintered  over  in 
a  pit.  It  was  dug  on  the  side  hill  which  runs 
down  from  the  back  of  the  barn,  to  keep  out 

318 


four-footed  thieves;  it  was  lined  with  half -inch 
wire  netting. 

The  outer  hulls  were  removed  from  the 
nuts,  and  then  they  were  packed  in  alternate 
layers  with  dry  sand,  a  piece  of  wire 
netting  put  over  the  top,  fastened  down 
to  the  sides,  and  then  covered  with  a  conical- 
shaped  pile  of  earth,  to  prevent  rain  or  snow 
from  accumulating  and  sinking  into  the  pit. 

Before  being  packed,  the  nuts  were  placed  in 
an  air-tight  hox;  a  small  pan,  half -filled  with 
carbon  bisulphide,  placed  on  the  top  of  them, 
the  lid  shut,  and  left  to  fumigate  for  twenty- 
four  hours.  The  fumes  or  gases  of  the  car- 
bon bisulphide  permeate  the  entire  box,  and 
effectually  prevent  the  nuts  being  attacked  by 
weevils  or  grubs. 

Oaks  were  quite  scarce  in  our  neighborhood, 
so  we  begged  acorns  from  a  friend  who  had  a 
place  in  New  York  State,  gathering  them  as 
soon  as  they  fell,  and  storing  them  in  the  same 
way  as  the  nuts.  Maple  sugar  being  one  of 
the  dear  Master  Man's  weaknesses,  we  set  out 

319 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

one  bed  of  seed,  to  insure  some  other  people's 
"  childrens  "  having  tree-drip  for  their  cakes. 
At  least  that  was  Reika's  quaint  comment  on 
the  work.  We  had  trouble  the  first  season 
with  the  maple  seed;  then  we  discovered  it  was 
very  short-lived,  and  that  it  was  better  to  seed 
when  it  falls  in  the  springtime,  like  willows, 
birch,  and  elms,  the  seed  of  all  which  should  be 
used  as  they  ripen  in  spring.  The  pines  and 
firs  we  collected  as  seedlings  in  the  woods, 
thereby  saving  three  or  four  years.  The  nurs- 
ery beds  really  cost  nothing  except  a  very  little 
time;  and  a  small  notice  which  some  one 
gave  us  in  a  local  paper  the  fourth  year  after 
we  had  started,  brought  us  customers  for  four 
hundred  trees,  which  we  sold  at  the  nominal 
price  of  five  cents  each ;  but  that  fully  paid  for 
the  man's  time  in  planting  our  wind-break  and 
river  bank. 


320 


"TICK-TACK,"  THE  BELATED  BABY,  AFTER  HE  BECAME  A  PET 


CHAPTER   TWELVE 

THOROUGHBRED   POULTRY 

THOUGH  the  first  fifteen  hens  I  bought  were 
just  nondescripts,  I  intended  to  have  good 
birds  eventually,  so  the  plebeians'  eggs  were 
used  for  the  table,  and  then  when  the  old  ladies 
evinced  a  desire  to  set,  eggs  were  brought 
from  a  poultry  farm  which  kept  white  Wyan- 
dottes.  Only  common  market  stock,  but  that 
was  all  the  exchequer  could  afford  in  those 
days,  and  by  buying  cockerels  of  higher  caste 
to  head  the  breeding-pens,  the  young  birds 
were  a  little  better  each  year. 

In  the  spring  of  the  fourth  year  the  desire 
for  show-room  trophies,  and  the  prestige  their 
possession  gives,  became  irresistible,  and  a  trio 
of  birds  who  had  won  first  prize  at  Madison 
Square  Garden,  in  New  York  City,  were  pur- 
chased for  $70.  It  seemed  an  awful  price  for 

321 


THE   EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

three  birds,  and  I  felt  guilty  until  results  justi- 
fied the  extravagance. 

The  birds  were  bought  in  February, 
and  the  following  October  their  account 
stood  as  follows:  The  ten  best  cockerels 
sold  at  $5  each;  four  equally  good  pullets  at 
$2.50  each;  thirty-two  cockerels  not  so  good  in 
points,  an  average  of  $1.50  each;  twenty  pul- 
lets of  the  same  grade,  valued  at  $1  each, 
added  to  our  own  laying  stock;  fifteen  really 
first-class  pullets  kept  for  breeding  stock, 
making  in  all  the  cash  return  of  $76.  Value 
of  stock  kept,  $32.50;  making  a  sum  total  of 
$108.50.  Deducting  $8.50  for  feed  and  the 
original  outlay  of  $70,  we  netted  a  profit  of 
$30  in  nine  months. 

Rearing  prize  birds  or  animals  is  one  of  the 
most  profitable  and  interesting  branches  of 
husbandry.  But  it  should  not  be  attempted 
until  experience  has  furnished  solid  practical 
knowledge  and  time  has  established  a  good 
market. 

Inquiries     for     thoroughbred     stock     had 
322 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

been  numerous  for  at  least  a  year  before  I  had 
any  for  sale.  So  the  first  year  there  was 
no  occasion  even  to  advertise.  An  article  writ- 
ten by  A.  A.  Brigham  for  the  Young  Poultry- 
man  of  Rhode  Island  in  1899  was  so  helpful 
to  me  that  I  asked  for  and  received  permission 
to  quote  it  at  length: 


"  INBREEDING 


" '  Breeding  in  and  in '  is  a  term  which  sig- 
nifies the  breeding  together  of  animals  of  close 
consanguinity,  but  the  closeness  of  blood  re- 
lationship is  not  defined.  The  idea  is  to  fix 
and  concentrate  any  desirable  quality  by  breed- 
ing together  closely  related  animals  possessing 
that  quality.  It  is  always  easier  to  find  one  or 
two  animals  possessing  the  desired  character 
in  a  marked  degree  than  to  find  a  whole  flock 
possessing  the  same  quality,  e.  g.>  every  pen  of 
fowls  has  its  'best  bird.' 

"  If,  then,  we  would  seek  to  develop  a 
family,  flock,  or  breed  possessing  the  proper- 

323 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

ties  desired,  we  can  most  quickly  secure  this 
object  by  interbreeding  the  few  individuals 
possessing  the  properties,  with  their  offspring 
which  have  inherited  the  same  qualities. 

"  Carefully  and  intelligently  prosecuted, 
this  process  may  result  successfully.  Igno- 
rantly  or  injudiciously  carried  on,  the  result 
will  probably  be  disastrous.  It  is  a  principle 
in  stock-breeding  that  coupling  two  animals 
possessing  the  same  good  quality,  defect,  or 
disease,  will  tend  to  fix  and  intensify  that  good 
quality,  defect  or  disease  in  the  offspring. 

"  Two  essential  conditions  must  invariably 
attend  successful  inbreeding,  viz.,  sound  con- 
stitution and  perfect  health.  With  these  as  a 
foundation,  close  inbreeding  may  be  practised 
with  the  best  of  results,  as  is  shown  by  the 
breeds  thus  produced  and  perpetuated  by  suc- 
cessful stock-breeders. 

:<  The  qualities  of  fattening  easily  and 
quickly,  of  early  maturity,  of  enormous  egg 
production,  all  have  been  brought  to  highest 
perfection  in  individuals  and  families  which 

324 


WHITE  WYANDOTTE  ROOSTER 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY, 

have  resulted  from  close  inbreeding.  Mr. 
Bates'  rule  in  cattle  breeding  was,  '  Always 
put  the  best  animals  together  regardless  of 
any  affinity  in  blood.'  One  of  the  most  valu- 
able practical  advantages  of  careful  inter- 
breeding is  in  the  imparting  of  the  quality  of 
prepotency  to  males.  The  thoroughbred  stal- 
lion, bull  or  cock-bird  is  bred  to  many  females 
of  his  kind,  and  thus  greatly  influences  the 
quality  of  numerous  offspring  on  the  farm  or 
in  the  neighborhood  where  he  is  kept.  A  male 
which  has  inherited  the  concentrated  virtues  of 
a  long  line  of  interbred  ancestors  will  stamp 
those  qualities  most  certainly  upon  his  off- 
spring. 

"  Cross  breeding  as  a  farm  practice  may  be 
defined  as  breeding  together  animals  of  dif- 
ferent breeds  or  families. 

"  Cross  breeding  is  of  vast  importance  in  im- 
proving the  wool,  muscles,  meat,  milk,  eggs,  or 
other  marketable  product  of  common  or  native 
stock.  The  common  animals  generally  have 
good  constitution  and  good  health,  but  are 

325 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

often  inferior  in  their  yield  of  valuable  market 
products.  The  pure-bred  animal,  possessing 
the  qualities  desired  and  the  power  of  strongly 
and  surely  transmitting  them,  is  crossed  upon 
the  common  stock,  and  the  result  is  usually 
great  improvement.  The  prepotency  of  the 
pure-bred  animal  gives  him  power  of  affect- 
ing the  qualities  of  the  offspring  to  far  greater 
extent  than  his  mate. 

"  Note  how  rapidly  the  pure  blood  increases 
if  in  the  process  the  offspring  of  each  genera- 
tion are  bred  with  pure  bloods  each  time. 

The  first  cross  has  £  pure  blood. 

"     second       "  £  " 

"     third          "  I  " 
"     seventh     " 


"  With  the  second  cross  comes  the  question 
of  interbreeding,  i.e.,  the  breeder  must  decide 
whether  he  will  breed  the  daughter  to  her  sire, 
or  make  use  of  another  male  of  the  same  breed 
as  the  sire. 

'  When  by  crossing  with  superior  animals  we 
326 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY, 

have  improved  our  stock,  we  must  also  provide 
improved  conditions.  The  climate,  the  food, 
and  the  care  must  all  be  as  good  as  the  supe- 
rior pure-bred  animals  have  previously  en- 
joyed, else  the  improvement  cannot  be  main- 
tained. 

"  In  nature  changes  come  slowly.  It  may 
be  necessary  to  secure  the  desired  changes  by 
gradual  steps.  If  the  animals  to  be  crossed 
are  too  disproportionate  to  each  other,  '  rever- 
sion'  will  very  probably  occur  and  bring  dis- 
appointment. *  Violent  crosses '  are,  there- 
fore, to  be  avoided.  Do  not  attempt  to  cross 
animals  of  distinct  breeds  having  opposite 
characters.  Never  cross-breed  animals  simply 
for  the  sake  of  crossing. 

"  Breeding  between  crosses  is  merely  guess- 
work and  yields  haphazard  results,  because 
usually  crosses  have  not  fixed  hereditary  char- 
acteristics. How  fast  the  pure  blood  may  be- 
come diluted  by  crossing  out  and  out  is  shown 
by  the  fact  that  in  the  tenth  generation  the 
descendant  would  possess  only  one-ten-hun- 

32? 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

dred-twenty-fourth  part  of  the  original  pure- 
bred ancestor. 

"  However  desirable  it  would  seem  to  be 
able  to  determine  what  qualities  the  father  and 
mother  each  transmit  to  their  offspring,  the 
conditions  of  breeding  are  so  complex  and  in- 
tricate that  it  is  very  difficult  to  establish  proof 
of  any  theory  as  to  this  subject. 

"  We  are  safe  in  asserting  that  the  parent 
which  has  the  greatest  prepotency  and  an  an- 
cestry bred  for  the  longest  time,  in  a  certain 
line,  will  most  strongly  affect  the  progeny. 

"  We  may  sometimes  overcome  the  trans- 
mission of  a  defect  or  blemish  of  one  parent 
by  coupling  with  such  animal  a  mate  possess- 
ing very  prepotent  excellency  in  the  point 
where  the  other  is  deficient. 

"  It  seems  to  be  not  so  much  a  question  of 
sex  as  of  individuality.  We  may  hence  learn 
what  individual  parents  can  do,  and  by  care- 
ful use  of  that  knowledge,  and  with  close  re- 
gard for  accompanying  conditions,  bring 
about  desirable  or  avoid  undesirable  results. 

328 


WHITE  WYANDOTTE  HEN 


The  relative  influence  of  parents  is  further  af- 
fected by  purity  of  blood,  by  constitution,  and 
by  physical  vigor.  The  age  of  a  parent  may 
thus  have  much  to  do  with  the  question.  Lack 
of  bodily  exercise  may  tend  to  lessen  the  pro- 
portion of  influence.  Excessive  use  in  breed- 
ing will  cause  diminution  of  power  to  trans- 
mit qualities. 

"  PEDIGREE 

"  From  the  study  we  have  made  of  the  prin- 
ciples of  breeding  we  must  conclude  that  the 
ancestry  of  our  breeding  animals  is  of  very 
great  significance  in  determining  results.  The 
development  of  the  best  breeds  of  farm  stock 
has  been  in  very  striking  degree  the  fixing  of 
the  desirable  and  prepotent  characters  of  a 
few  ancestors  upon  numerous  descendants. 

'  The  pedigree  of  an  animal  is  his  line  of 
descent,  his  list  of  progenitors;  in  short,  his 
ancestry.  In  stock-breeding,  the  term  is  often 
applied  to  signify  the  statement  on  record  of 

329 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY, 

the  ancestry  of  an  animal.  An  animal's  pedi- 
gree may  be  good  or  bad,  according  to  the 
worth  or  worthlessness  of  the  ancestors  in- 
cluded in  it.  It  may  be  complete  or  incom- 
plete, according  as  it  includes  all  or  only  a  part 
of  the  names  of  the  individuals  composing  tHe 
animal's  ancestry  back  to  the  formation  of  the 
breed. 

"  The  perfectly  prepared  pedigree  of  an 
animal  shows  the  foundation  stock  of  the 
breed  that  enters  into  his  line  of  ancestry,  and 
then  step  by  step  exhibits  the  different  links  in 
the  chain  of  life,  indicating  to  what  extent  the 
foundation  stock  and  their  progeny  re-enter 
the  pedigree,  the  closeness  of  interbreeding, 
the  out  breeding,  the  use  of  unknown,  doubt- 
ful, or  undesirable  sires  or  dams;  in  fact,  all 
the  blood-relationships  of  which  the  animal  is 
the  result. 

:'  With  the  pedigree  should  be  studied  the 
records,  so  far  as  obtainable,  of  the  animals 
listed  in  the  pedigree.  In  actual  investigation 
of  the  ancestries  of  animals,  it  is  almost  and 

330 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

oftentimes  quite  impossible  to  ascertain  the 
whole  of  the  ancestral  history  of  a  given  in- 
dividual, owing  to  the  incompleteness  of  the 
records  of  the  past;  only  those  animals  which 
have  developed  peculiarly  strong  and  valuable 
characteristics  having  been  considered  worthy 
of  (historical)  recording.  Especially  is  this 
true  in  poultry  breeding. 

"  This  subject  of  pedigree  is  a  most  em- 
phatic illustration  of  the  importance  of  the 
principles  of  heredity.  It  may  serve  to  ex- 
plain atavism,  showing  to  what  ancestor  an 
offspring  has  reverted.  It  emphasizes  the 
value  of  prepotency;  since  it  often  serves  to 
show  how  the  prepotent  power  of  an  ancient 
ancestor  has  stamped  his  descendants,  even  to 
the  extent  of  a  whole  breed,  with  his  qualities. 
It  may  further  show  the  power  of  pure  blood 
or  of  a  cross  in  causing  variation,  or  nega- 
tively exhibit  the  effects  of  unfavorable  con- 
ditions in  overcoming  inheritable  qualities 
(comparing  expected  and  realized  results). 

"  The  breeder  should  very  thoroughly  study 
331 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

his  breeding  animals  as  individuals,  and  by  the 
senses  of  sight  and  touch  learn  to  judge  of 
their  qualities,  and  especially  to  associate  the 
visible  form  and  the  feeling  of  the  conspicu- 
ous parts  with  correlated  unrevealed  qualities. 
"  We  all  like  to  see  what  we  call  beauty  and 
symmetry  in  our  fowls  and  other  farm  ani- 
mals, but  the  practical  breeder  should  learn  to 
understand  what  form  of  symmetry  is  best 
adapted  to  and  associated  with  the  purpose 
which  he  has  in  view.  A  study  of  the  charac- 
ters of  different  distinct  breeds  of  farm  ani- 
mals shows  us  that  different  forms  and  char- 
acteristics attend  upon  varied  qualities  and 
powers,  and  that  certain  forms,  colors  and 
proportions  become  so  well  fixed  that  a  bird 
that  does  not  strongly  resemble  the  true  type 
of  its  breed  is  rejected  from  the  breeder's  list 
of  breeding  stock.  The  breeder  having  ascer- 
tained as  much  as  possible  by  the  study  of  his 
animal's  ancestry  through  pedigrees  and  rec- 
ords, next  seeks  to  understand  further  quali- 
ties by  the  study  of  individual  conformations 

332 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

and  characteristics;  and  finally,  as  opportu- 
nity offers,  studies  his  breeding  animals  by 
their  own  records  and  by  their  offspring,  thus 
coming  in  due  time  to  know  his  animals  most 
completely." 

The  beginner  is  usually  convinced  that  two 
perfect-looking  creatures  of  any  sort  or  kind 
will  produce  their  like,  but  unfortunately  such 
is  not  the  case.  A  bird's  ancestors  have  almost 
more  influence  on  its  progeny  than  the  indi- 
viduality of  the  bird  itself.  For  that  reason  it 
is  necessary  to  know  the  characteristics  of  the 
ancestral  progenitors  of  the  bird  that  you  de- 
sire to  cultivate,  so  that  the  signs  of  reverted 
heredity  can  be  recognized  at  once,  and  intel- 
ligently combated  by  the  next  season's  mating. 

As  Plymouth  Rocks  were  the  first  American 
creation  in  poultry  to  achieve  any  public  rec- 
ognition, we  will  consider  them  first. 

Years  and  years  ago  there  was  in  New  Eng- 
land a  common  fowl,  often  referred  to  in  early 
poultry  literature  as  "  the  hawk-colored  hen." 
The  birds  are  gray,  with  rather  red  wings  and 

333 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

many  black  feathers.  It  is  said  that  they  were 
even  faintly,  but  indistinctly,  barred  on  neck 
and  saddle.  They  had  single  combs  and  clear 
shanks,  and  often  weighed  from  five  to  six 
pounds.  A  few  progressive  farmers,  wishing 
to  improve  the  laying  quality  of  their  hens, 
following  the  old-time  theory  of  like  begetting 
like,  selected  the  best  birds  at  their  disposal 
and  mated  them,  and  in  time  their  descendants 
became  known  as  the  "  Dominick  fowls  " ;  an 
improvement  on  the  old  hawk-colored  bird, 
but  still  not  satisfactory  to  this  group  of  utili- 
tarians. Brahmas,  Cochins  and  Langshans, 
which  were  at  that  time  being  imported  to  a 
limited  extent,  were  too  slow  and  heavy  to  fill 
their  ideal;  Leghorns  and  Minorcas  too  light, 
excitable  and  difficult  to  control  within  a 
limited  space.  Besides,  the  cold  New  Eng- 
land winters  were  not  conducive  to  the  Medi- 
terranean birds'  productiveness.  So  a  Mr. 
Clark,  who  had  some  black  Cochins,  which 
had  been  imported  by  a  Mr.  Giles,  and  a  Mr. 
Spalding  who  kept  the  hawk-colored  fowls, 

334 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

tried  the  effect  of  mating  Cochin  pullets  with 
a  hawk  rooster.  The  results  were  cockerels  re- 
sembling the  sire,  but  with  more  visible  black 
markings.  Pullets  were  principally  black, 
only  a  very  few  resembling  the  male  bird,  and 
even  these  much  darker  in  color  than  the  sire. 
This  mating  was  (on  the  authority  of  veteran 
poultrymen  like  D.  A.  Upham  of  Wilsonville, 
Conn.,  and  the  Rev.  D.  D.  Bishop)  the  foun- 
dation of  the  first  American  breed  of  fowls. 
Mr.  Upham  procured  two  of  the  lighter  pul- 
lets and  a  cockerel,  and  for  two  or  three 
years  he  strove  to  improve  the  markings  and 
general  type;  then  in  1869  showed  them  at 
Worcester,  Mass.,  under  the  name  of  Plym- 
outh Rocks — a  name  which  Dr.  Bennett  of 
Plymouth,  Mass.,  had  given  to  some  birds 
which  he  had  manufactured  prior  to  1850,  by 
crossing  Cochin  China,  Dorkings,  Malays, 
and  Wild  Indian.  According  to  report,  these 
birds  were  not  at  all  like  the  present  Rocks, 
and  were,  in  1869,  extinct,  so  Mr.  Upham  was 
at  liberty  to  adopt  the  name  without  trenching 

335 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

upon  anyone's  prerogative.  The  birds  shown 
by  Mr.  Upham  created  quite  a  sensation,  not 
only  from  their  appropriate  size  for  table  use 
and  laying  qualities,  but  for  being  the  first 
real  American  creation  they  aroused  and  grati- 
fied national  pride,  and  every  fancier  tried 
to  buy  birds  or  eggs.  Some  wiseacres,  guess- 
ing how  the  new  breed  had  been  created,  set 
about  developing  strains  of  their  own.  Some 
used  Brahmas,  others  Cochins,  to  gain  size. 
Even  now,  one  occasionally  hears  of  the 
Ramsdell,  Gilman,  Essex,  and  May  strains 
of  Barred  Plymouth  Rocks.  The  amateur 
who  tried  to  breed  Plymouth  Rocks  twenty 
years  ago  had  to  fight  the  legacies  bestowed 
by  the  original  mixed  ancestry.  Sometimes  it 
would  be  the  feathered  legs  of  the  Cochin; 
sometimes  the  black  coloring  or  red  feathers 
and  poor  breeding  of  the  old-time  hawk  bird. 
Years  of  careful  breeding  have  almost  en- 
tirely eliminated  such  troubles  in  up-to-date 
stock.  But  allow  a  flock  of  originally  good 
birds  to  mate  indiscriminately  for  three  or 

336 


PLYMOUTH  ROCK  ROOSTER 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

four  seasons,  and  they  will  gradually  lose  their 
special  Rock  individuality,  and  reproduce  in 
bleared  form  many  traits  of  the  birds  from 
which   they   sprung.      To   militate   such   ten- 
dencies and  keep  up  the  standard,  the  ama- 
teur  must   be   thoroughly    familiar   with   the 
form  and  color  of  the  ideal  Barred  Plymouth 
Rock  type.     The  body   should  be  deep,  yet 
well  rounded,  the  neck  and  tail  curving  up- 
ward from  the  back,  which  is  broad  and  of 
medium  length.     Body,  deep,  broad  and  full; 
thighs,  large  and  of  medium  length;  shanks, 
stout    and    smooth;    well-apart    and    of  me- 
dium length.     Head,   medium,   carried  high. 
Adult  males  should  weigh  9%  pounds ;  cock- 
erels, 8  pounds;  hens,  71/£;  pullets,  6^.    Color: 
beak,  shanks  and  feet  yellow.    Females  some- 
times have  a  few  slight  dark  stripes  at  the 
base  of  the  bill,  which  are  not  essential,  but  are 
not  counted  as  blemishes.     Eyes,   deep  bay; 
face,  comb,  wattles  and  ear-lobes,  bright  red. 
General  carriage  should  be  alert,  trig  and  busi- 
ness-like. 

337 


THE   EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

Now  for  the  most  exacting  and  difficult 
item — plumage.  The  standard  of  perfection 
described  it  up  to  1903  as  bluish-gray,  with 
narrow  parallel  lines  of  dark  blue,  just  stop- 
ping short  of  positive  black.  In  the  later 
issues  it  has  been  changed  to  grayish-white, 
each  feather  crossed  by  regular,  narrow,  par- 
allel, sharply-defined  dark  bars,  that  stop 
short  of  positive  black,  free  from  shafting  of 
brownish  tinge  or  metallic  sheen.  The  light 
and  dark  bars  to  be  of  nearly  equal  width,  and 
to  extend  throughout  the  length  of  the  feather 
in  all  sections  of  the  fowl.  (On  females, 
feathers  having  narrow,  dark  tips  are  pre- 
ferred.) The  combination  of  overlapping 
feathers  to  give  the  plumage  a  bluish  appear- 
ance. F.  L.  SeweE,  a  poultry  artist  of  ac- 
knowledged authority,  in  a  very  extensive  dis- 
cussion of  the  color  of  the  Barred  Plymouth 
Rocks  says: 


338 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 


"  PAEALLEL    BARS    SHOULD    BE    AS    STRAIGHT    AS 
POSSIBLE  " 

While  the  Standard  fails  to  say  anything 
about  the  straightness  of  the  bars,  it  does 
describe  them  as  "  parallel."  This  feature, 
combined  with  their  being  as  straight  as 
possible,  gives  the  most  attractive  effect  and 
helps  a  great  deal  toward  the  feathers  match- 
ing their  bars  side  by  side  in  rings,  round  the 
body  of  the  bird.  On  the  pencilled  Ham- 
burg, the  bars  have  been  bred  to  the  straightest 
pattern  of  any  variety  of  fowls,  and  they  are 
famous  for  their  "  ringy  "  effect.  We  have 
seen  birds  so  marked  where  the  bars  bent  back- 
ward and  also  males  in  which  the  bars  of  the 
surface  color  bent  forward  towards  the  tip, 
that  were  severely  criticised  by  experts.  Mr. 
Arthur  Smith,  of  Grove  Hill  Poultry  Yards, 
has  often  called  our  attention  in  the  show 
rooms  to  this  failure  in  quite  evenly-colored 
birds,  that  otherwise  were  attractive,  but  did 

339 


THE   EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

not  prove  "  ringy  "  on  account  of  the  V-shape 
marking. 

The  bars  on  the  opposite  sides  of  the  quill 
not  matching,  but  breaking  at  the  quill,  is  an 
old,  persistent  habit  of  the  "  cookoo  "  or  Domi- 
nique color,  which  in  some  poorly-bred  speci- 
mens repeats  itself  nearly  all  over  the  bird. 
With  all  the  good  specimens  to  be  found  at 
our  best  breeders'  yards  at  the  present,  this 
blemish,  when  found  throughout  the  plumage, 
stamps  the  individual  as  a  very  cheap  bird. 
While  we  are  mentioning  the  common  faults 
and  cheapness  of  this  irregularity  of  marking, 
we  would  not  wish  to  convey  to  the  mind  of 
any  novice  the  idea  that  perfectly  barred  speci- 
mens are  obtainable.  The  first  prize  New 
York  hen,  shown  last  winter  (December, 
1907),  by  Chas.  H.  Welles,  probably  came  as 
near  to  perfection  in  color  as  has  ever  been 
shown  in  America,  and  an  offer  even  of  $1,000 
did  not  tempt  him  to  part  with  her,  but  he  pre- 
ferred rather  to  keep  her  for  breeding. 

The  "  shaft "  or  quill  must  be  the  same  color 
340 


A  RHODE  ISLAND  RED  ROOSTER 


THE   EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

as  the  bar  through  which  it  passes.  The 
Standard  says  "  free  from  shafting."  This 
means  free  from  light-colored  quill  passing 
through  the  dark  bars.  The  shaft  occasion- 
ally shows  dark  color  in  the  light  bar,  but  this 
is  seldom  the  case  with  this  breed,  and  is 
little  thought  of,  as  an  over-colored  feather  is 
seldom  regarded  so  faulty  as  one  lacking  in 
color.  Even  a  black,  blotched  feather  is  not 
considered  so  serious  a  blemish  as  one  blotched 
with  white.  The  over-colored  blood  is  more 
easily  corrected  than  blood  that  lacks,  as  blood 
that  lacks  pigment  cannot  be  impressed  with 
pattern  in  its  color  so  readily. 

THE   COLOR   OF   THE   TIP 

Until  the  latest  revision  of  the  standard 
of  perfection,  no  mention  was  made  of  color 
of  tip  in  either  Dominiques,  Plymouth  Rocks, 
or  Dominique  Leghorns.  This  point,  which 
has  so  much  to  do  with  the  general  effect  and 
surface  color,  has  for  several  years  past  re- 

341 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

ceived  considerable  attention,  and  at  our  best 
shows  has  been  critically  judged.  Strange  to 
say,  in  the  latest  edition  of  the  Standard  no 
mention  of  preference  for  this  finishing  touch 
on  males  is  made;  only  is  it  described  for  fe- 
males. Truly  it  would  be  a  poor  mating  that 
did  not  match  in  this  respect. 

Early  in  the  '90s  particular  attention  was 
called  to  the  very  pleasing  effect  of  continu- 
ous bands  of  color  caused  by  the  straight  bars 
of  the  best-bred  birds,  matching  in  such  a  way 
as  to  produce  the  effect  of  rings  of  color 
around  the  body  or  across  portions  of  sections. 

The  attempt  to  produce  this  "  ringy  "  effect 
upon  as  many  sections  as  possible,  since  it 
became  the  fashion,  has  proven  not  only  fas- 
cinating to  breeder  and  fancier,  but  is  estab- 
lishing a  trade  mark  upon  the  highest  stand- 
ard-bred exhibition  barred  Plymouth  Rocks 
that  are  of  more  than  common  value  for  fine 
show  birds. 

Until  recent  years  male  birds  have  been 
much  lighter  than  pullets.  Now  the  ambition 

342 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

of  the  club  is  to  have  males  and  pullets  match 
as  nearly  as  possible,  and  experienced  breeders 
discovered  long  ago  that  to  accomplish  this 
feat  it  was  necessary  to  keep  two  distinct 
families,  each  specially  mated,  to  produce 
males  and  females. 

When  I  commenced  to  read  up  on  the  sub- 
ject, "line-breeding"  and  "double  mating" 
were  my  stumbling-blocks.  I  read  dozens  of 
articles  in  different  poultry  papers  before 
I  was  able  to  grasp  the  true  meaning  of 
either.  Two  perfect  birds  who  match  and 
have  won  first  prize  in  a  show  room  will, 
if  mated,  invariably  produce  light  or  dark 
birds,  and  as  invariably  will  the  indis- 
criminate mating  of  two  distinct  blood  lines 
of  barred  varieties  produce  blurred  or  imper- 
fect markings.  So  the  only  way  to  get  ex- 
hibition birds  is  to  mate  standard-color  males 
to  slightly  darker  females  who  were  sired  by 
the  same  father.  In  other  words,  mating  a 
bird  to  his  half-sister,  of  a  slightly  darker 
color  than  himself,  and  the  male  progeny  will 

343 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

almost  surely  resemble  the  father,  while  the 
females  will  be  like  the  mother,  strongly- 
marked  birds — but  too  dark  for  show-room 
requirements.  For  blue  ribbon  females,  stand- 
ard-color pullets  must  be  chosen  and  mated 
with  a  male  of  lighter  color,  belonging  to  the 
mother's  family — father  or  brother  or  son — 
it  is  immaterial  so  long  as  relationship  is  on 
the  maternal  side.  You  will  probably  say, 
"  Why,  that  is  inbreeding,"  which,  of  course, 
it  is ;  but  as  only  the  best-shaped  and  generally 
perfect  specimens  are  chosen  for  such  propa- 
gating, it  is  not  likely  to  cause  any  trouble. 
Periodically  it  is  well  to  procure  a  cockerel 
from  some  branch  of  the  same  family,  which 
has  been  outbred,  and  make  an  experimental 
mating  with  one  or  two  pullets.  If  the  prog- 
eny of  either  sex  are  good,  keep  them,  and 
infuse  new  blood  into  the  breeding  pens,  but 
always  remember  to  keep  the  matings  to  stand- 
ard color  on  the  sire's  line  for  males,  and  the 
mother's  line  for  females.  And  also  remem- 
ber that  shape  and  vigor  are  as  important  as 

344 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

plumage.  Though  I  started  my  thorough- 
bred pens  with  prize  birds,  I  had  quite  a  diffi- 
cult fight  to  get  the  bars  to  run  straight  across 
the  feathers.  They  were  good  to  the  tips,  but 
there  they  either  mixed  on  the  black  line  or  con- 
formed to  the  round  of  the  feather.  After 
two  seasons  I  sent  to  the  person  from  whom  I 
bought  the  original  trio  for  a  very  dark 
cockerel  from  the  same  females  and  mated 
him  with  quite  light  pullets.  The  first  season 
I  succeeded  in  getting  two  cockerels  out  of 
the  chicks  reared,  which  had  perfectly  straight 
bars  and  were  all  right  in  general  color.  The 
following  season  straight  bars  predominated, 
and  the  one  show  bird  we  reared  amply  repaid 
us  for  all  the  trouble  and  time. 

From  barred  Rocks  I  skipped  to  buff  vari- 
eties, Cochins  and  Wyandottes,  trying  both 
the  same  season,  and  fortunately  for  the  pros- 
perity of  the  farm,  I  discovered  that  it  was  a 
mistake  to  try  all  sorts  and  kinds  of  birds,  and 
returned  to  my  original  love  for  the  white 
Wyandotte,  from  which  I  have  never  since  de- 

345 


THE   EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

viated;  so  the  following  hints  on  buff  matings 
are  mostly  gleaned  from  other  people's  experi- 
ence and  condensed  as  follows: 

Study  the  male  birds  first:  select  the  very 
best  you  can  get,  then  carefully  note  each 
point  and  compare  them  with  the  demands  of 
the  standard.  The  best  bird  will  be  lacking 
in  some  respects,  so  choose  the  pullets  to 
counterbalance  his  weaknesses.  Should  he  be 
too  large,  have  too  large  a  comb,  legs  too  long, 
or  some  other  point  of  formation  over-accent- 
uated, let  the  pullets  be  correspondingly  weak 
in  that  special  point.  Don't  lose  sight  of  the 
fact  that  type  should  come  first  in  selection. 
Time  and  judicious  mating  will  eventually  cor- 
rect color  faults.  In  the  case  of  Wyandotte 
males  the  most  generally  seen  defects  are  these : 

Too  high  on  legs ;  too  long  on  back ;  narrow- 
ness across  the  saddle,  giving  a  pinched  ap- 
pearance to  base  of  tail;  wings  carried  too 
high;  perhaps  at  an  acute  angle  to  the  back, 
thus  preventing  the  graceful  concave  sweep  to 
the  tail  that  should  mark  the  Wyandotte;  un- 

346 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY, 

shapely  comb;  unsound  lobes;  light-colored 
eye,  etc.  No  one  would  think  of  using  a  bird 
having  all  these  defects;  but  the  great  ma- 
jority of  males  have  some  of  them  in  greater 
or  less  degree.  A  male  may  be  splendid  in 
shape  in  some  sections  and  lacking  badly  in 
others.  This  lack  must  be  compensated  for 
in  the  female.  If  he  is  high  on  legs,  select 
for  him  females  low  on  shanks ;  if  he  is  narrow 
across  the  back,  mate  him  to  a  hen  with  quite 
an  apparent  cushion.  Aim  at  low-set,  blocky 
chickens,  and  bear  in  mind  that  if  you  mate 
two  birds  with  the  same  shape  defect  you  will 
only  aggravate  and  increase  that  defect  in  a 
large  percentage  of  their  chicks. 

In  the  show-room,  buff  really  means  buff, 
not  red;  but  it  must  be  buff  down  to  the  skin, 
and  of  one  uniform  shade.  The  common  color 
defects  are  red  on  neck  or  near  the  tail,  light 
shading  across  the  middle  of  the  back;  black 
or  white  feathers  in  tail  or  wing;  white  or  pale 
under  color.  (Under  color  means  the  top 
of  the  feather  which  lies  near  the  skin,  not, 

347 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

as  I  used  to  think,  the  feathers  on  the  under 
part  of  the  bird's  body.)  Until  a  buff  bird  has 
matured  one  really  cannot  tell  what  the  bird's 
color  is  going  to  be.  You  must  always  wait 
until  the  birds  have  had  the  first  moult,  and 
get  their  adult  feathers.  White  birds  must 
be  mated  with  the  same  regard  for  counter- 
balancing defects  of  shape  and  color  as  other 
varieties.  The  greatest  difficulty  is  to  get 
and  maintain  white  plumage:  the  natural 
tendency  is  to  brassiness. 

From  the  time  chicks  are  hatched,  they 
should  receive  the  best  of  care  in  the  matter 
of  food,  for  any  neglect  will  check  growth, 
and  jeopardize  their  chances  later  in  life.  In 
the  "  Self -Supporting  Home "  I  gave  a 
method  of  washing  and  shipping  birds,  but  as 
you  may  not  have  read  it,  the  instruction  given 
in  the  catalogue  of  one  of  the  largest  white 
Wyandotte  breeders  in  the  world  may  help  you. 

Have  ready  three  tubs  of  water;  one  hot, 
one  warm,  and  one  cold.  To  the  latter  add  or- 
dinary washing  blue.  Get  a  moderately  soft 

348 


BUFF  ROCK  PULLET 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

sponge,  a  cake  of  ivory  soap,  and  a  Turkish 
towel;  all  in  a  clean  room  where  a  good  fire  is 
burning. 

Put  the  bird  into  the  hot  water,  start  at 
the  head,  and  scrub  clean,  using  the  brush 
always  downwards,  never  across  or  upwards. 
Use  plenty  of  soap  and  do  the  work 
thoroughly.  Scrub  the  shanks  and  toes,  move 
to  the  second  tub,  and  rinse  and  rinse  until  not 
a  vestige  of  soap  remains  in  the  feathers. 
Next  dip  up  and  down  several  times  in  the  blu- 
ing water.  Hold  it  up  and  shake  off  all  the 
water  you  can,  then  wipe  thoroughly  with  the 
sponge,  and  place  in  a  small  coop  near  the  fire, 
but  not  too  close,  as  a  direct  heat  will  cause  the 
feathers  to  crinkle  and  crawl.  Cover  the  bot- 
tom of  the  coop  with  a  layer  of  sawdust  not 
less  than  two  inches  deep,  to  insure  the  drop- 
pings being  immediately  covered. 


349 


CHAPTER   THIRTEEN 

DOGS 

A  COUNTRY  home  must  have  its  dog  or  dogs, 
and  the  self-supporting  scheme  demands  that 
good  specimens  of  a  popular  breed  be  selected 
to  insure  the  progeny  being  of  marketable 
value.  The  Master  Man  and  I  had  been  dog 
lovers  all  our  lives;  many  and  many  a  sacri- 
fice had  we  been  called  upon  to  make  in  the 
days  of  travel.  There  are  so  many  hotels  and 
places  that  can't  be  cheated  or  bribed  into  ac- 
cepting four-footed  guests. 

We  had  been  dogless  for  about  a  year  when 
we  moved  on  to  the  farm,  so  when  I  nearly  ran 
over  a  puppy  in  the  road  when  out  driving  one 
day  and  was  attracted  by  the  solemn,  dignified 
manner  in  which  he  trotted  back  to  the  house 
which  he  should  not  have  left,  I  was  delighted  to 
be  able  to  purchase  him  for  two  dollars. 

350 


THE    EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

He  was  just  dog,  his  mother  being  mainly 
Irish  setter,  and  his  father  Scotch  collie,  but  he 
was  intelligent,  and  developed  into  the  head 
herdsman  of  the  farm.  We  only  had  him  a  few 
weeks  when  Jack  joined  the  family. 

One  evening  there  was  a  heavy  thunderstorm 
that  made  going  to  bed  a  useless  proceeding,  so 
I  sat  reading  in  the  living-room,  though  it 
was  quite  late,  when  suddenly  a  huge  black 
object  dashed  through  the  open  window, 
cleared  the  table  at  a  bound,  and  positively 
hurled  itself  across  my  knee. 

Truly,  I  do  not  think  I  ever  experienced  such 
a  horrible,  uncanny  fright,  but  instinct  cau- 
tioned ine  to  keep  quiet  and  speak  soothingly, 
though  I  don't  think  I  realized  for  a  few  sec- 
onds that  it  was  just  a  dog,  and  even  when  I 
did,  his  violent  entrance  and  condition  were  not 
reassuring. 

He  continued  to  moan  and  crouch  just 
where  he  had  first  landed,  with  his  head 
buried  in  my  knee,  for  what  seemed  an  age, 
but  as  his  paroxysm  of  terror  subsided  I  man- 

351 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY, 

aged  to  slip  his  heavy  body  on  to  the  floor.  He 
seemed  utterly  exhausted — his  wild  eyes  and 
half -open  mouth  made  me  move  very  cau- 
tiously. I  reached  for  a  dish  of  bread  and 
milk  which  had  been  brought  in  for  the  cat, 
and  pushed  it  close  to  his  nose.  He  made  an 
effort  to  grab  at  it,  but  instead  of  eating  fell 
back  moaning. 

After  a  little  while,  I  screwed  up  my  courage 
to  drop  a  small  piece  of  the  moist  bread  into 
his  mouth,  and  as  I  stroked  his  head  to  try  and 
coax  him  to  eat,  my  hand  came  in  contact  with 
what  I  thought  was  a  thick  string  around  his 
throat,  which  was  evidently  strangling  him. 
Getting  it  off  was  a  dreadful  business,  for  his 
throat  had  swollen,  and  instead  of  a  rope,  it 
proved  to  be  the  lash  of  a  rawhide  whip.  The 
pressure  necessary  to  cut  it,  and  the  gash  I 
could  not  help  making  in  his  skin,  must  have 
been  agonizing,  yet  the  first  thing  the  poor  beast 
did  was  to  try  and  lick  my  hand.  When  I  had 
time  to  notice  details,  I  was  horrified  to  find  that 
his  shoulders  and  breast  were  soaked  with  blood, 

352 


,THE   EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

and  that  my  dress  had  ghastly  stains  all  down 
the  front.  Examination  showed  that  his  front 
paws  were  torn  and  bleeding,  but  there  was  no 
cut  or  wound  to  account  for  the  condition  of 
his  coat. 

Imagination  conjured  up  such  scenes  of 
tragedy  that  I  just  had  to  play  nurse  all 
night  because  I  was  too  great  a  coward  to  go 
to  bed. 

Jack — as  we  called  him,  because  he  an- 
swered to  it  when  I  ran  through  a  list  of  or- 
dinary dog  names — was  an  invalid  for  many 
weeks,  but  when  he  commenced  to  recover  and 
fill  out,  he  developed  into  a  most  ferocious-look- 
ing giant,  and  as  strong  as  a  lion.  Rover  he 
adopted  as  a  son,  and  educated  him  splendidly. 
That  they  had  a  code  of  communion,  and 
worked  in  accordance  with  Jack's  orders  in 
guarding  the  place,  was  clearly  demonstrated 
on  many  occasions.  If  anything  suspicious 
happened  at  night,  Rover  would  come  to  the 
window  of  my  room,  stand  up  on  his  hind  legs, 
put  his  nose  to  the  sash — which  was  always 

353 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

open,  summer  or  winter — and  after  two  or 
three  soft  cries,  repeating  them  at  short  inter- 
vals until  I  got  up  and  spoke  to  him,  he  would 
at  once  go  to  the  side  door  and  wait  to  guide 
me  to  where  the  trouble  was,  and  there  we  al- 
ways found  Jack  on  guard.  This  had  been  re- 
peated several  times,  and  always  in  the  same 
way.  Once  the  brooder-house  caught  fire,  and 
but  for  their  timely  warning  the  loss  would  have 
been  ruinous. 

So  when  I  was  aroused  one  night  when  the 
Master  Man  was  away  from  home,  I  hurried 
out  without  waiting  to  awaken  Sidney.  Instead 
of  the  brooder-house,  as  I  feared,  Rover  piloted 
me  to  the  pheasantry.  It  was  a  cloudy  night, 
and  the  light  uncertain,  so  I  didn't  see  Jack,  but 
ran  against  him,  and  felt  that  he  was  rigid  and 
half -crouching,  ready  to  spring.  At  the  same 
time  I  made  out  three  figures  within  the  enclo- 
sure. 

Just  what  happened  next  I  don't  know. 
The  light  must  have  improved,  for  I  saw  the 
men  plainly,  and  they  evidently  saw  us.  Sev- 

354 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

eral  shots  were  fired;  one  of  the  men  tried  to 
seize  me;  Jack  flew  at  his  throat,  and  they  both 
fell  to  the  ground.  There  was  an  awful  con- 
fusion of  curses,  shots,  and  entreaties  to  call 
the  dog  off,  amidst  which  I  heard  distinctly, 

"  I'll  be  killed!  It's  Rawlings'  d n  brute!  " 

"Shut  up,  you  fool,  we  killed  him!"  "It's 
him !  Come  on !  " 

The  two  men,  still  on  their  feet,  seemed 
frightened,  and  Jack's  man  yelled  madly  and 

imploringly  to  me  to  call  off  the  " 

Rawlings  dog,"  promising  to  go  if  I  would. 
Well,  I  did,  fearing  for  the  dogs,  but  for  the 
first  time  Jack  was  slow  to  obey,  and  when  he 
did,  it  was  only  for  a  second  or  two,  then  he 
flew  after  the  rushing  figures,  which  fled  across 
the  orchard  to  a  rig  which  stood  in  the  road. 
There  was  another  battle  between  the  dogs 
and  the  men,  who  eventually  succeeded  in  get- 
ting off  just  as  Sidney  and  Mr.  Fred,  who  had 
been  awakened  by  the  shots  and  cries,  arrived 
on  the  scene. 

Poor  Rover  was  shot  in  the  throat,  and 
355 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

never  fully  recovered,  dying  from  the  effects 
of  the  wound  before  the  year  was  out.  Jack 
had  escaped  any  bullets.  Both  dogs  were 
smeared  with  blood,  so  we  concluded  the  men 
had  suffered. 

From  the  remarks  about  Rawlings'  dog,  and 
the  men's  evident  fright  when  they  recognized 
Jack  as  an  old  acquaintance,  we  were  led  to 
believe  that  had  we  been  able  to  trace  the  men, 
we  might  have  unearthed  the  mystery  of  the 
tragedy  that  brought  Jack  to  us. 

Some  weeks  after  the  attempted  robbery  I 
noticed  Jack  putting  up  his  head,  sniffing  and 
growling  several  times  during  the  early  part  of 
the  day.  Later  he  was  missing. 

About  nine  o'clock  he  crawled  into  my  work- 
room, dragging  his  hind  quarters  helplessly 
along;  he  had  been  shot  in  the  back.  There 
were  a  few  minutes  of  content,  having  reached 
me — then  the  end  came.  Like  his  coming,  his 
leaving  us  was  fraught  with  pain  and  misery. 

I  have  wandered  far  from  the  practical,  but 
Jack  and  Rover  were  such  noble  examples  of 

356 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

the  faithful  devotion  of  what  people  call  com- 
mon dogs,  that  I  could  not  refrain  from  telling 
their  stories,  to  make  it  perfectly  clear  to  every 
one  that  when  I  advocate  thoroughbred  dogs, 
it  is  solely  for  commercial  reasons,  and  not  in 
any  disparagement  of  "just  dog,"  yellow  or 
any  other  color,  for  no  aristocrat,  however  blue 
its  blood,  could  have  usurped  Jack's  and  Ro- 
ver's places  in  our  affection. 

Great  Danes  are  the  best  dogs  to  be  kept 
from  mercenary  motives.  Our  genii  brought 
them  to  us,  though  by  common  ordinary  chan- 
nels. Pigs  had  to  be  killed,  and  a  butcher 
was  engaged  to  come  and  do  the  gory  work. 
I  suppose  some  one  had  been  talking  about 
dear  old  Jack's  death,  for  the  man  asked  to  see 
me,  and  said  that  he  had  two  big  dogs,  which 
he  had  taken  to  board  some  time  before,  and 
as  no  one  had  come  to  pay  their  bills,  he  could 
not  afford  to  keep  them  any  longer;  he  would 
be  glad  to  let  me  have  them  for  $5  a  piece. 
Finding  that  he  knew  nothing  about  the 
owner's  whereabouts,  I  agreed  to  take  them  on 

357 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

the  condition  that  should  any  one  claim  them, 
he  would  refer  them  to  me. 

I  expected  just  two  big  dogs  that  would  do 
for  watchmen  around  the  building,  so  my 
astonishment  was  great  when  Victor  and 
Victoria  arrived.  They  were  perfectly  well- 
broken,  well-behaved  dogs,  and  what  was  much 
more  to  their  credit,  evinced  a  desire  to  be 
friendly  with  the  cats.  We  soon  realized  that 
Victoria  required  special  care  and  attention. 
Being  rather  nervous  about  the  possible 
dfficulties  which  might  arise,  Mr.  Fred  was  sent 
to  the  city  to  confer  with  a  canine  doctor,  whose 
cautions  and  suggestions  were  so  many  and 
alarming  that  we  decided  to  send  Victoria  up  to 
his  place  for  a  time. 

But  it  was  another  case  of  "  man  pro- 
poses " — two  days  later  she  refused  to  leave 
the  box  stall  in  which  it  had  seemed  best  to 
keep  her  at  night.  Her  eyes  showed  signs  of 
trouble,  and  she  declined  the  ordinary  break- 
fast, so  some  warm  milk  was  fetched,  and  she 
was  coaxed  into  drinking  it. 

358 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

By  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening  she  was  rest- 
ing comfortably,  with  nine  babies  to  joy  her 
motherly  heart.  Next  morning  Mr.  Fred  was 
sent  scouring  the  country  for  one  or  more  fos- 
ter-mothers. Nothing  of  a  suitable  kind  could 
be  found,  so  we  decided  to  resort  once  again  to 
bottles  and  goat's  milk,  but  Victoria  seemed  so 
disgusted  with  our  interference  that  we  con- 
cluded to  let  her  keep  them  all,  for  a  time  at 
least.  Of  course  she  was  given  all  she  would  eat 
— chopped  raw  beef,  soup,  and  whole  wheat 
bread  and  milk,  and  the  babies  were  taught  to 
lap  goat's  milk  as  soon  as  it  was  possible.  Vic- 
tor was  very  proud  of  his  children,  and  helped 
to  look  after  them  beautifully  as  soon  as  they 
commenced  to  stagger  about. 

As  we  didn't  know  the  dogs'  pedigrees,  nor 
anything  of  their  ancestry,  they  could  only  be 
sold  on  their  face  value.  The  two  largest  and 
best-shaped  males  brought  $50  each  when  nine 
months  old;  the  three  others  $25  each.  The 
females  were  got  rid  of  when  they  were  be- 
tween three  and  four  months  old,  and  they 

359 


brought  $5  each.  We  looked  up  the  butcher 
and  paid  their  board  bill  of  $60.  It  did  not 
seem  fair  to  let  him  lose  when  we  had  gained 
so  much  by  the  transaction. 

The  food  of  two  large  dogs  like  the  Danes 
will  not  cost  more  than  a  dollar  a  week  on  a 
farm,  and  that,  of  course,  is  only  $52  a  year. 
From  birth,  and  until  a  year  old,  a  puppy 
might  cost  about  $20 ;  but  it  is  safe  to  estimate 
that  one  good  puppy  will  pay  his  own  and  his 
parents'  expenses,  so  the  remainder  can  be 
counted  as  clear  profit.  As  with  all  pet 
stock,  fashion  sets  the  price;  so  in  estab- 
lishing kennels,  or  even  in  selecting  a  guardian 
for  the  home,  choose  the  dog  or  dogs  in 
vogue. 

Just  now  the  collie  is  pre-eminently  the 
wealthy  woman's  favorite  among  large  breeds, 
and  there  is  little  fear  of  his  being  deposed, 
for  his  handsome  coat  and  gentle,  mannerly 
ways  render  Mr.  Collie  an  acquisition  to  a 
carriage,  to  say  nothing  of  his  growing  pop- 
ularity among  the  big  cattle  raisers  of  the 

360 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

West,  who  are  rapidly  learning  to  value  the 
collie  as  an  aid  in  herding. 

A  more  recent  claimant  for  notice  is  the 
stately  Russian  wolf-hound.  Of  course  hunt- 
ing dogs  hold  their  own  regardless  of  fashion's 
ebb  and  flow,  but  before  attempting  to  estab- 
lish such  a  kennel,  the  ability  to  "  break  to 
gun  "  must  be  considered. 

Amongst  smaller  dogs,  Cocker  spaniels, 
Airedale  terriers,  Irish  and  Scotch  terriers, 
seem  to  lead;  while  the  toy  favorites  are 
Ruby  spaniels,  Blenheims,  Pomeranians,  King 
Charles  and  Japanese  spaniels,  and  just  lately 
Yorkshire  terriers — all  dear,  fascinating  little 
fellows,  that  any  woman  can  raise  even  in  a 
city  home. 

GENERAL   CARE 

The  first  consideration  is  to  understand  the 
care  necessary  to  keep  a  dog  in  health;  next, 
the  patience  to  teach  him  at  least  rudimentary 
manners  and  deportment,  for  all  puppies 

361 


THE   EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

should  be  cleanly  and  biddable  before  being 
sent  away  to  strangers,  who  may  know  little 
about  dogs,  and  so  imgaine  starving  or  thrash- 
ing the  only  cure  for  cries  of  lonely  misery  or 
mistakes  caused  by  nervousness. 

A  mature  female  collie,  in  whelp,  will  cost 
from  $50  to  $100:  other  breeds  no  less,  and  in 
many  cases,  like  the  Russian  wolf-hound,  much 
more.  The  bluest  of  blue-blooded  pups  usu- 
ally range  from  $10  to  $25.  A  few  months, 
and  the  female  can  go  to  service  to  some  good 
stud  dog,  and  before  long  there  will  be  young 
ones  for  sale,  which  will  repay  all  the  outlay, 
and  render  future  progeny  entire  profit. 

Have  a  comfortable  kennel  ready  before 
sending  for  the  dog.  It  can  be  made  out  of 
a  drygoods  case  covered  with  roofing  paper  if 
the  family  talents  do  not  include  carpenter- 
ing. No  matter  what  the  architecture  may  be, 
let  it  be  free  from  damp  and  drafts,  and  stand 
where  sheltered  from  summer  suns  and  winter 
winds.  Provide  an  ample  bed  for  cold  nights, 
to  be  renewed  twice  a  week;  a  chain  at  least 

362 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

twenty  feet  long,  with  strong  swivels  at  each 
end,  and  a  screw-eye  at  the  side  of  the  kennel 
to  snap  it  to.  The  advantage  of  having  a 
swivel  at  each  end  of  the  chain  is  manifold; 
the  chain  won't  become  tangled  to  half  its 
length,  and  can  be  moved  without  trouble  if 
occasion  arises  for  a  temporary  change  of 
place. 

When  a  dog  arrives,  if  it  has  been  crated 
and  sent  by  express,  remember  that  in  all 
probability  the  poor  beastie  will  be  frightened, 
tired  and  cross;  so  be  gentle  and  considerate. 
Talk  to  it  in  a  gentle  and  friendly  way,  and 
manage  to  place  a  collar  around  its  neck  and 
snap  the  chain  to  it  before  opening  the  crate. 
Let  the  dog  get  out  by  himself — don't  pull  or 
drag  him.  You  have  got  to  win  his  confidence 
before  asserting  your  authority.  Devote  half 
an  hour  or  so  to  walking  him  about,  or  rather 
letting  him  walk  you  about.  Naturally  cleanly 
dogs  will  need  the  exercise.  If  there  are  signs 
of  constipation,  don't  attempt  to  dose  the 
stranger.  A  piece  of  fat  meat  or  some  sour 

363 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

milk  will  usually  correct  the  trouble.  If,  How- 
ever, the  journey  has  had  the  reverse  effect, 
feed  bread  and  milk  which  has  been  scalded, 
or  boiled  rice. 

When  a  reasonable  inspection  of  the  prem- 
ises has  been  made,  fasten  the  dog  to  the  ken- 
nel, feed  little,  place  a  dish  of  clean  water 
within  reach,  and  leave  him  alone  to  realize  the 
change  of  home,  and  possibly  sleep  off  the 
nervous  strain  of  the  journey.  Should  he 
whine,  or  even  howl,  do  not  go  out  to  him. 
The  fight  has  to  be  gone  through  with  most 
dogs,  and  it  is  of  shorter  duration  if  accom- 
plished immediately  on  arrival  in  a  strange 
place.  Feed  him  yourself,  and  take  him  out 
for  a  run  on  chain,  in  the  morning,  at  noon, 
again  at  night,  for  two  days;  after  this  the 
average  dog  will  acknowledge  you  as  master 
or  mistress,  as  the  case  may  be,  and  the  kennel 
as  his  castle. 

If  it  is  a  young  dog,  the  discipline  of  being 
chained  at  night  is  beneficial,  preventing,  as  it 
does,  the  natural  tendency  of  half-grown 

364 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

puppies  to  go  off  after  birds  or  rabbits  in  the 
early  morning  hours;  but  no  dog  should  be 
kept  perpetually  on  chain.  The  guarding 
companionship  which  has  made  the  canine  race 
man's  best  friend,  cannot  exist  unless  the  dog 
has  freedom  of  action  to  follow  and  protect. 
•Moreover,  they  are  active  animals,  whose 
health  suffers  if  condemned  to  a  life  of  semi- 
inactivity. 

A  city  woman  who  heard  of  me  through  a 
mutual  friend,  wrote  and  asked  me  to  accept 
a  pair  of  pedigreed  fox-terriers,  as  she  was 
going  abroad.  I  was  delighted  until  two 
miserable,  shivery,  silky-haired,  overfed  crea- 
tures arrived,  wearing  thick  blankets  and 
boots.  My  disgust  almost  made  me  dislike  the 
poor  little  wretches.  As  it  was,  my  indignation 
vented  itself  in  burning  the  boots. 

Pity  for  the  victims  of  a  silly  woman's  mis- 
taken kindness  prompted  trying  to  revive  any 
spark  of  terrier  left  in  them — not  a  very  easy 
matter,  as  I  found.  They  shivered,  shook,  and 
howled  for  their  blankets  at  night,  and  had  to 

365 


be  starved  into  eating  wholesome  food,  as  their 
diet  had  consisted  of  hard-boiled  eggs,  chicken, 
cream,  and  sponge  cake.  Can  any  reasonable 
being  imagine  any  self-respecting  fox-terrier 
submitting  to  being  clothed,  shod,  and  fed  on 
such  food? 

I  have  always  regretted  that  we  did  not  have 
photographs  taken  on  arrival  and  six  months 
later;  they  would  have  been  such  convincing 
proofs  of  the  value  of  proper  food  and  exer- 
cise; for  within  that  time  the  overfed  bodies 
became  symmetrical,  dull  listlessness  gave 
place  to  alert  activity,  silky  hair  scattered  to 
the  four  winds  of  heaven,  and  the  wiry  coat 
which  Beaker  and  Babber's  ancestors  entitled 
them  to  gradually  asserted  itself,  making  us 
as  proud  of  our  small  doggies  as  we  were  of 
our  large  ones. 

I  have  described  the  condition  of  these  two 
dogs  and  their  subsequent  return  to  normal 
conditions  simply  to  warn  the  solicitous  against 
overfeeding  and  pampering,  which  is  quite  as 
cruel  as  neglect.  Large  dogs,  and  the  terrier 

366 


THE    EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

class,  must  have  quantities  of  out-door  exer- 
cise and  wholesome  food  to  be  healthy. 

When  a  puppy  is  being  weaned,  from  the 
fifth  to  the  eighth  week,  feed  five  times  a  day 
— small  quantities,  of  course,  for  the  stomach 
must  not  be  overtaxed.  Bread  and  milk,  boiled 
oatmeal,  hominy,  or  any  such  food  is  suitable 
for  breakfast.  A  cracker,  or  half  a  slice  of 
brown  bread,  is  good  for  lunches.  The  main 
meal  should  consist  of  boiled  meat,  onions  and 
rice,  mixed  with  some  cooked,  green  vegetable. 

From  ten  weeks  old  until  nine  months,  three 
meals  a  day.  Two  meals  are  sufficient  for  ma- 
ture dogs.  The  best  way  to  gauge  quantity  is 
to  find  out  about  what  a  dog  will  eat,  and  then 
give  a  little  less.  Puppies  or  dogs  should  be 
eager  for  food,  but  not  ravenous.  Don't  give 
milk  which  has  not  been  scalded,  or  potatoes  in 
any  form,  if  you  wish  to  save  the  puppies  from 
worms.  Sour  milk  once  or  twice  a  week  in 
summer  is  healthful,  but  should  not  be  given 
oftener. 

Twice  a  week  a  bone  with  some  meat  on  it  is 
367 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

needed.  There  is  a  theory  that  raw  meat  is  in- 
jurious for  dogs,  but  I  know  several  experi- 
enced breeders  who  affirm  that  a  limited  quan- 
tity of  lean,  raw  beef  is  positively  essential  for 
growing  puppies,  and,  of  course,  everybody 
knows  that  a  bone  keeps  a  dog's  teeth  in  order, 
but  what  many  people  do  not  know  is  that  the 
brittle  bones  of  poultry,  game  and  fish  are  ex- 
tremely dangerous,  as  they  splinter,  and  have 
been  known  to  pierce  the  intestines. 


BREEDING 

Large  dogs,  like  Danes,  mastiffs  or  blood- 
hounds, don't  reach  full  maturity  until  they 
are  two  years  old,  and  should  not  be  allowed  to 
breed  until  that  age.  It  is  possible  to  have  two 
litters  of  puppies  a  year,  but  it  is  not  advisable, 
as  it  weakens  the  mother  dog's  vitality,  and  the 
youngsters  will  be  inferior.  Young  females 
should  be  watched  for  the  first  signs  of  matu- 
rity from  the  time  that  they  are  six  months  old, 
and  kept  under  strict  supervision  for  eighteen 

368 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

or  twenty  days.  The  best  plan  is  to  confine 
her  in  a  loft,  or  some  upstairs  place,  away 
from  any  possibility  of  visitors,  but  she  must 
be  taken  out  for  exercise  twice  a  day  to  keep 
her  in  health.  After  the  twentieth  day,  it  will 
be  safe  to  let  her  have  entire  freedom  for 
about  five  months.  After  that,  it  is  well  to  be 
on  the  alert,  though  there  may  be  no  cause 
until  the  sixth  or  seventh  month.  Curtail  her 
liberty  for  the  first  eight  or  ten  days,  then 
allow  her  to  visit  the  selected  dog,  but  on  no 
account  allow  her  to  have  free  range  for  an- 
other ten  or  twelve  days.  Sixty-three  days  can 
be  counted  from  the  day  of  her  visit,  but  of 
course  there  may  be  a  variation  of  twenty- four 
or  forty-eight  hours  with  different  individuals, 
so  prepare  a  comfortable  bed  in  a  sheltered 
place  for  about  a  week  before  the  expiration 
of  her  time. 

Exercise  is  beneficial,  but  over-fatigue  or 
unwonted  running  and  jumping  should  be 
avoided,  especially  as  her  time  draws  near. 
Many  of  the  best  authorities  advocate  admin- 

369 


,THE   EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

istering  a  mild  dose  of  medicine  a  few  days 
before  she  is  due,  but  we  have  always  found 
that  a  little  extra  fat  in  the  soup  answers  just 
as  well.  We  have  been  very  fortunate,  never 
having  any  serious  trouble  with  any  of  our 
mother  dogs,  and  I  think  perhaps  it  is  due  to 
the  fact  that  they  have  a  varied  diet  and  free 
range,  so  that  they  can  take  what  exercise  they 
like.  What  is  more,  we  make  companions  of 
them,  and  they  are  contented  and  happy. 

The  ordinary  method  of  keeping  breeding 
dogs  in  kennels,  confined  in  small  enclosures, 
seems  to  me  most  reprehensible,  for  there  is 
nothing  to  interest  them  or  keep  them  occu- 
pied, except,  of  course,  in  the  case  of  terriers, 
who  can  find  or  make  excitement  about  any- 
thing or  nothing  more  important  than  the  fall- 
ing of  a  leaf. 

We  did  have  one  collie,  whose  appetite  al- 
ways failed  during  the  last  few  days,  and 
whose  puppies  came  at  long  intervals.  The 
only  trouble  was  to  keep  up  her  strength, 
and  that  we  did  by  beating  up  the  yolk  of 

370 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

an  egg  and  adding  half  a  teaspoonful  of 
brandy  to  it.  The  dose  was  repeated  at  in- 
tervals for  two  or  three  hours  as  it  seemed  ad- 
visable. Strange  to  say,  her  puppies  were  born 
with  a  want  of  proper  instinct  about  food,  for 
they  would  never  attempt  to  nurse  till  they  were 
forced  by  hunger,  and  even  then  had  to  be  held 
to  her  breast  and  almost  taught  how  to  help 
themselves.  But  Jinny  Dean  and  her  babies  are 
the  only  family  which  needed  such  pernickety 
nursing. 

About  four  weeks  before  the  babies  are  ex- 
pected, a  dose  of  worm  medicine  is  adminis- 
tered, and  another  one  a  few  days  later.  We 
prefer,  and  always  use,  Dr.  Wurms  powders, 
both  for  mother  and  babies.  Give  babies  of 
any  of  the  large  breeds  a  three-grain  dose 
when  three  weeks  old,  and  from  then  on  every 
six  weeks  until  past  puppyhood,  increasing  the 
dose  slowly  after  the  second  one. 

Use  clean,  unbroken  oat  straw  for  the  bed; 
let  it  be  changed  the  day  after  the  babies  arrive, 
and  every  week  during  the  time  they  occupy  the 

371 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

box.  In  hot  weather,  keep  mother  and  babies 
as  cool  as  possible.  We  have  an  old  smoke- 
house shaded  by  a  large  tree,  with  a  big,  open 
chimney  at  one  end,  and  a  door  at  the  other,  so 
there  is  always  plenty  of  ventilation.  On  very 
sultry  days  a  burlap  curtain  is  thoroughly 
soaked  in  water  and  hung  over  the  screen  door 
to  lower  the  temperature.  And  in  the  winter 
the  maternity  ward  is  a  little  room  partitioned 
off  from  the  brooder-house,  which  is  always 
comfortably  warm,  as  the  steam-pipes  pass 
through  it. 

Puppies  should  be  taught  to  drink  as  soon 
as  possible  after  they  are  six  weeks  old.  We 
use  goats'  milk,  but  when  there  are  no  goats  to 
furnish  it,  condensed  milk  is  really  the  safest. 
I  If  cows'  milk  has  to  be  used,  it  must  be  scalded 
and  allowed  to  cool  as  for  a  human  baby;  and 
let  me  assure  you  that  as  much  care  should  be 
exercised  in  feeding  young  animals  as  young 
children,  for,  like  children,  the  least  neglect  is 
likely  to  cause  bowel  trouble  and  indigestion. 

Lessons  in  eating  will  be  much  easier  if  the 
372 


A  TOY  POMERANIAN 


THE    EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

mother  is  taken  away  for  an  hour  or  so  before 
the  milk  is  offered.  Gradually  lengthen  her 
absence  from  day  to  day  until  she  only  spends 
the  night  with  her  children,  and  the  weaning 
will  be  accomplished  without  pain  to  any  one. 
After  the  first  week  we  add  a  little  lime-water 
to  the  milk,  and  then  gradually  introduce  oat- 
meal which  has  been  thoroughly  boiled;  then  a 
little  cornmeal,  also  well  boiled.  Large  bones, 
with  hardly  a  suspicion  of  meat  on  them,  keep 
the  babies  amused,  and  help  them  to  cut  their 
teeth.  Chicken-broth,  with  a  little  of  the  meat 
chopped,  and  some  whole  wheat  bread  crum- 
bled or  mixed  with  it,  is  a  good  dinner  when 
they  have  learned  to  eat. 

Accomplish  house-breaking  as  early  in  life 
as  possible.  A  good  rule  with  small  dogs,  who 
live  in  the  house,  is  never  to  leave  a  puppy 
alone  in  a  room,  because  one  mistake  encour- 
ages repetition.  Exert  a  diligent  watchful- 
ness at  first.  When  a  puppy  commences  to 
fidget  and  sniff  about,  pick  it  up  and  put  it 

outside,  or  in  a  box  containing  sawdust.    Pa- 

373 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

tience  and  perseverance  will  be  tested  pretty 
severely  for  two  or  three  weeks,  but  after  that 
time  nothing  but  neglect  to  keep  the  box  clean 
will  cause  trouble. 

Perhaps  it  is  as  well  to  warn  city  housekeep- 
ers, who  may  have  to  depend  entirely  on 
a  box  of  sawdust  or  ashes  for  their  pet's 
convenience,  that  neither  cats  nor  dogs  will 
use  it  more  than  two  or  three  times.  This 
is  frequently  the  cause  of  pet  animals  becom- 
ing careless  in  their  manners. 

Large  dogs  can  be  taught  tidy  ways  by 
being  fed  at  six  o'clock  in  the  evening,  taken 
for  a  walk  at  night,  then  chained  in  a  shed  or 
outer  kitchen,  their  range  never  being  more 
than  three  feet  from  their  bed.  Release  early 
in  the  morning,  and  take  out  of  doors  imme- 
diately. They  will  soon  understand  the  disci- 
pline of  enforced  hours.  The  close  proximity 
to  their  bed  causes  natural  instinct  to  govern 
their  behavior,  and  the  habit,  once  formed,  will 
prevail  through  life. 


374 


,THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

TOY  DOGS 

The  toy  varieties,  such  as  Japanese,  Blen- 
heim and  King  Charles  spaniels,  Pomerani- 
ans, Maltese  and  Yorkshire  terriers,  can't 
really  be  treated  like  ordinary  dogs,  they  are 
such  ethereal,  sensitive  mites.  A  cross  or  un- 
kind word  grieves  them  to  the  verge  of  illness. 
I  think  the  Pomeranians  and  Yorkshires  are 
the  most  engaging,  because  they  have  with- 
stood the  years  of  inbreeding  and  hot-house 
existence  which  were  necessary  to  reduce  them 
to  their  present  pigmyism  and  beauty,  and  still 
retain  a  goodly  supply  of  vim  and  gumption. 

Four  years  ago  I  became  the  possessor  of  a 
six-weeks-old  Yorkshire  of  high  degree.  Not 
caring  very  much  for  the  ordinary  toy  animal, 
I  resolved  to  try  to  waken  the  dormant  terrier 
in  him,  even  if  it  meant  sacrificing  his  angelic 
refinement  and  silky  raiment. 

Well,  it  is  a  case  of  canine  Jeykll  and  Hyde 
now.  Newly  bathed,  brushed  and  beribboned 
for  a  visit  to  the  city,  he  is  a  perfect  little  aristo- 

375 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

crat,  but  at  home  he  romps  wildly  about  the 
place,  "  bossing  "  everything  from  the  horse  to 
a  tame  lovebird  who  flies  about  my  workroom. 
Time  and  again  he  has  rushed  after  a  rabbit 
up  hill  and  down  dale  with  as  much  reckless 
gusto  as  if  he  were  an  untrained  Irish  terrier, 
and,  of  course,  briars  and  burs  have  played 
havoc  with  his  coat ;  but  he  is  a  splendid  watch- 
dog, can  track  me  as  perfectly  as  any  bird-dog, 
and  tramp  for  miles  in  any  weather  without 
showing  fatigue.  He  only  measures  13  inches 
from  head  to  tail,  stands  5l/2  inches  high,  and 
weighs  3Vs  pounds. 

Great  care  must  be  exercised  in  selecting  the 
fundamental  breeding-stock,  as  health  and 
strength  are  much  more  difficult  to  find  than 
beauty,  and  though  such  drawing-room  habi- 
tants must  be  kept  small  and  dainty,  every  pre- 
caution should  be  taken  to  insure  their  being 
healthy  creatures,  with  sweet,  wholesome 
breaths  which  will  not  offend. 

Once  having  procured  such  a  specimen,  it 
only  requires  the  exercise  of  common  sense  in 

376 


THE    EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

their  management,  and  time  and  patience  to 
cultivate  their  coats,  to  insure  their  having 
good,  salable  youngsters.  Bathing  and 
grooming  the  long-haired  varieties  is  quite 
a  work  of  art,  and  must  not  be  undertaken 
in  a  careless,  higgledy-piggledy  manner. 

Bathing  I  don't  belive  in  very  much,  for 
it  robs  the  skin  of  the  natural  oil  which  is 
needed  to  feed  the  hair  and  keep  it  glossy. 
Twice  a  week  a  mixture  of  cocoanut  and  sweet 
almond  oil  is  brushed  into  the  hair,  and  then 
thoroughly  removed  with  clean  brushes;  each 
stroke  being  taken  from  the  parting  down  the 
back  to  avoid  tangling. 

When  a  bath  is  absolutely  necessary,  stand 
the  dog  in  a  small  tub  half -filled  with  warm 
water,  rub  white  Castile  soap  on  to  a  flesh- 
brush,  and  use  as  you  would  dry.  The 
under  part  of  the  body  should  be  brushed 
from  the  neck  to  the  hind  legs.  Take  the  front 
paws  in  your  left  hand  whilst  the  dog  stands 
on  his  hind  legs  in  the  water,  and  you  will  find 
it  quite  easy  to  do.  Leave  the  head  until  the 

377 


,THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

last,  hold  the  ears  backwards  and  wash,  then 
gather  the  hair  to  the  back  of  the  head,  and 
hold  the  little  victim's  nose  up  in  the  air  whilst 
you  brush  the  hair  toward  the  back. 

Two  fresh  waters  should  be  used  and  the 
sponge  instead  of  a  brush,  for  the  rinsing  pro- 
cess. When  every  particle  of  soap  has  been  re- 
moved, lift  the  little  chap  out  on  to  a  warm 
towel,  and  lay  another  one  over  him,  gently 
— squeezing  the  water  out  of  the  hair,  but  don't 
rub  or  ruffle  it.  Remove  to  a  dry  towel,  and 
brush  until  dry.  When  the  hair  seems  quite 
dry,  just  a  suspicion  of  oil  should  be  rubbed  on 
to  the  brush  to  prevent  the  hair  from  being 
fluffy  for  in  such  condition  it  mats  easily. 

Yorkshire  terriers  are  usually  a  great  disap- 
pointment to  amateurs,  because  they  are  black 
and  short-haired,  and  don't  look  in  the  least 
like  their  parents.  But  the  hair  soon  com- 
mences to  grow,  and  should  be  trained  to  part 
down  the  centre  of  the  back  from  the  time  they 
are  two  months  old,  at  which  time  the  color 
will  gradually  commence  to  change  at  the  roots 

378 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

as  it  grows  out,  and  should  be  like  polished 
steel — a  bright  metallic  blue-gray,  except  on 
the  legs  and  head  and  mustache,  which  should 
be  a  bright  tan. 

There  has  been  so  much  fuss  lately  about 
hydrophobia,  that  if  a  poor  half -grown  dog 
cutting  a  nasty  double  tooth,  and  like  any 
human  baby,  gets  cross  and  slobbery,  it  is 
apt  to  get  shot,  or  at  least  held  under  suspicion. 
My  grandfather,  father,  and  husband,  all  hav- 
ing been  dog-lovers,  I  have  been  brought  in 
contact  with  people  owning  and  breeding  dogs 
of  one  sort  or  another  all  my  life,  yet  I  never 
heard  of  any  one  who  makes  a  business  of 
keeping  dogs  having  any  personal  experience 
with  hydrophobia,  and  I  firmly  believe  that 
most  of  the  cases  cited  are  due  either  to  excess- 
ive nervous  imagination  or  a  bad  condition  of 
the  person's  blood  when  bitten. 

A  young  brindle  collie  once  came  to  us,  who 
was  foaming  at  the  mouth,  wild-eyed,  and  snap- 
ped at  every  one  who  came  near  him,  and  would 
do  nothing  but  hide  in  a  dark  corner.  I  put  on 

379 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

strong  gloves,  put  a  rope  round  his  neck,  and 
after  a  struggle  succeeded  in  pouring  a  goodly 
dose  of  salt  and  water  down  his  throat,  and  a 
few  hours  later  a  dose  of  castor  oil.  He  had 
been  simply  worried  into  a  state  of  nervous  ill- 
ness and  bad  temper  by  worms,  and  had  he 
gone  to  nervous  people,  would  in  all  probability 
have  been  shot  for  a  mad  dog.  Another  easily 
mistaken  case  was  a  lovely  old  mother  dog.  A 
man  came  up  to  the  house  on  a  hot  June  day 
and  asked  if  we  would  lend  him  a  gun  or  a 
revolver  to  shoot  a  mad  dog  with. 

He  was  carting  a  load  of  furniture  to  a 
gentlemen's  country  home  a  few  miles  beyond 
us,  and  had  tied  the  dog  under  the  wagon  to 
make  the  journey  on  foot,  whilst  her  puppies 
were  carried  in  a  basket.  Our  Mr.  Fred 
got  a  gun,  and  volunteered  to  do  the 
shooting  if  he  found  it  necessary  after  look- 
ing at  the  animal.  He  found  her  lying  on  the 
ground,  still  tied  to  the  cart,  the  saliva  running 
out  of  her  mouth,  and  generally  displaying  the 
signs  which  are  supposed  to  indicate  madness. 

380 


THE  MOST  BEAUTIFUL  YORKSHIRE  IN  AMERICA. 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

She  was  on  the  verge  of  a  fit  caused  by  the 
weight  of  milk  which  had  accumulated 
during  the  hours  of  separation  from  her 
puppies  and  the  unaccustomed  exercise  in 
the  heat. 

Mr.  Fred  cut  her  loose,  sent  up  to  the 
barn  for  the  stoneboat  and  horse,  and 
brought  her  up  to  the  root-cellar,  which  of 
course  was  empty  at  that  time  of  year.  Two 
hours  of  the  cool  darkness  reduced  her  con- 
dition to  so  near  normal  that  her  puppies 
were  given  to  her,  and  the  next  day,  when  the 
owner  drove  over  for  her,  she  was  apparently 
as  well  as  ever.  I  have  cited  these  cases  to  show 
how  easily  ordinary  suffering  of  various  kinds 
may  be  mistaken  for  madness. 


381 


ITINERARY   OF    THE   YEAR'S 
WORK 

JANUARY 

NEW  YEAR  is  a  splendid  time  to  make  good 
resolutions,  and  none  will  be  more  advantageous 
to  the  farmer  than  the  determination  to  start 
records.  It  takes  very  little  time  to  keep  de- 
tailed account  of  each  animal's  achievement 
after  the  system  is  once  organized ;  and  the  long 
winter  evening  is  just  the  time  to  do  the  cleri- 
cal part  of  the  work.  Give  each  animal  a  num- 
ber, if  you  are  too  practical  to  name  it.  Have 
a  book  for  each  variety  of  stock  kept:  cows, 
sheep,  pigs,  horses,  poultry,  etc.,  etc.,  and  an- 
other one  for  crops.  Number  or  name  each 
field.  Our  system  is  simple  in  the  extreme:  a 
page  is  devoted  to  each  animal ;  the  date  of  birth 
or  purchase  heads  it.  For  a  cow,  the  opposite 
page  is  devoted  to  milk  and  butter  records,  as 

382 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

explained  in  Chapter  VII.  Under  the  name 
and  birth  or  purchase,  comes  when  bred  and  to 
whom;  date  when  due;  to  be  followed  by  the 
actual  event,  sex  of  offspring  and  name  or 
number  bestowed  upon  it.  Crops  are  kept  much 
in  the  same  way:  name  or  number  of  the  field 
heads  the  page;  then  date  of  plowing  and  har- 
vesting. In  pencil  on  the  opposite  page,  sug- 
gestions for  catch-crops,  and  rotation  of  main 
planting.  Small  note-pads,  which  cost  three 
cents  apiece,  are  nailed  up  in  the  different  barns, 
chicken-houses,  feed-house,  etc.,  and  notes  of 
all  happenings  are  made  immediately.  Then 
the  sheets  are  torn  off  from  each  every  Satur- 
day and  brought  to  the  house,  for  the  items  to 
be  transferred  to  the  different  books.  It  does 
not  occupy  half  an  hour  weekly,  saves  innumer- 
able accidents  and  mistakes,  and  furnishes  an 
accurately  clear  knowledge  of  each  animal's 
value. 

The  Wood-lot. — This  is  the  very  best  month 
of  the  whole  year  practically  to  test  a  knowl- 
edge of  forestry.  Select  trees  and  have  a  sup- 

383 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

ply  of  firewood  and  fence-posts  cut  now, 
whilst  there  is  no  other  heavy  outdoor  work  de- 
manding attention.  The  crisp  January  air 
lends  vim  to  the  axe,  and  turns  hard  work  into 
play.  Besides,  it  is  much  easier  for  horses  to 
draw  home  heavy  logs  on  a  low  sleigh  over 
snow,  than  on  a  wagon  over  rough  roads. 
Splitting  the  wood  into  stove  and  half-lengths 
fills  stormy  days  profitably. 

Thresh  out  all  remaining  grain  and  store 
away  in  the  feed-house  bins. 

Barn  and  Stock. — Give  the  lambs  plenty  of 
food,  and  market  whilst  prices  are  at  their 
zenith. 

Use  plenty  of  bedding  in  the  horse  and 
cow  stalls.  A  comfortable  bed  saves  food,  and 
is  a  valuable  factor  in  keeping  stock  in  good 
condition. 

It  is  at  this  season,  when  cows  are  deprived 
of  all  active  exercise,  that  grooming  is  of 
paramount  importance  in  keeping  the  skin 
healthy.  Use  burlap  blankets,  and  have  them 
scoured  several  times  during  the  winter.  A 

384 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

clean  cow  gives  more  and  better  milk  and  but- 
ter. Be  careful  about  the  water  supply;  let  it 
be  bountiful  and  pure.  One  pail  of  boiling 
water  will  take  the  iciness  from  several 
pails,  and  prevent  the  consumer  being  chilled. 
When  horses  come  in  hot,  see  that  they  are 
taken  into  a  sheltered  place  for  their  rub-down, 
and  are  blanketed  at  once.  If  very  wet,  change 
the  blankets  after  a  reasonable  time.  Pigs  like 
warm,  dry  beds  as  well  as  other  cattle,  and  will 
thrive  better  if  their  food  is  cooked. 

Poultry. — Make  up  breeding  pens;  feed 
warm  corn  at  night.  If  the  season  is  very 
severe,  remove  perches  and  substitute  big  piles 
of  common  hay.  The  birds  will  creep  up  on  to 
them  at  night,  and  keep  much  warmer  than  if 
roosting.  A  bag  of  dry  leaves  and  hay-mow 
sweepings,  emptied  on  the  poultry-house  floor, 
will  induce  the  hens  to  scratch,  and  provide  ex- 
ercise which  they  can't  get  when  the  ground  is 
covered  with  snow.  A  green  bone  and  vege- 
table cutter  will  earn  twice  its  price  if  used 

every  day,  for  green  bones  and  vegetables  mean 

385 


THE   EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

lots  of  eggs  now,  and  strong  chicks  in  the 
future. 

Garden. — If  the  lawn  has  not  already  been 
covered  with  dressing,  let  it  be  done  at  once. 
Make  another  sowing  of  lettuce,  radishes,  mus- 
tard and  cress  in  the  hotbed,  for  use  in  March. 
If  the  weather  is  favorable,  try  and  finish  up  the 
pruning  necessary  in  orchard  and  fruit-garden ; 
for  detail  refer  to  Chapter  VI. 

FEBRUARY 

Farm  machinery  should  be  overhauled;  re- 
place injured  parts,  and  sharpen  knives,  renew 
washers,  etc.,  etc.,  to  prevent  loss  of  time  later 
in  the  season  when  minutes  are  worth  dollars. 
Learning  to  take  time  by  the  forelock  makes  a 
successful  farmer. 

Clear  snow  from  the  paths,  but  don't  make 
short  cuts  across  the  lawn,  for  if  you  do 
it  will  be  marked  by  a  streak  long  after 
winter  has  been  banished  by  spring.  Pumps 
should  be  left  with  the  handles  propped  up 

386 


THE   EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

at  night  so  the  water  runs  back  and  there  is 
none  to  freeze.  A  lighted  lantern  placed  un- 
der the  kitchen  sink  next  the  pipes  will  save 
Jack  Frost  causing  trouble  there. 

Examine  the  stores  of  vegetables  and  fruits. 
Remove  any  that  are  commencing  to  decay.  A 
little  lime  sprinkled  on  the  potatoes  will  assist 
their  keeping  quality,  and  check  sprouting. 

The  weather  has  been  so  uncertain  during 
recent  winters  that  it  is  safer  to  cut  ice  as  soon 
as  it  is  eight  inches  thick,  instead  of  waiting 
for  it  to  become  thicker. 

Barn  and  Stock. — If  straw  and  cornstalks  to 
be  used  for  bedding  are  chopped,  they  will  ab- 
sorb moisture  better,  and  the  manure  will  be 
more  wieldy  to  distribute. 

Cornstalks  and  hay,  chopped,  steamed,  and 
mixed  with  middlings  and  bran,  make  good 
milk  rations  if  you  are  short  of  ensilage  and 
roots. 

Be  careful  not  to  overfeed  horses  which  are 
doing  little  work.  Try  to  keep  all  exercised  in 
turn,  and  at  least  turn  out  into  the  crew-yard 

387 


THE   EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

every  fine  day.  Be  generous  with  fodder  for 
young  stock.  So  much  of  their  feed  is  con- 
sumed to  keep  up  bodily  heat. 

Poultry. — If  you  are  going  to  start  new 
flocks  of  turkeys,  geese,  guineas,  or  pigeons, 
don't  delay  getting  the  birds,  or  they  won't  have 
time  to  be  settled  in  their  new  quarters  before 
laying  time. 

Incubators  should  be  started  now.  Remem- 
ber, the  machine  must  stand  perfectly  level, 
and  in  a  cellar  or  room  where  there  is  the 
least  possible  fluctuation  of  temperature.  Set 
up  and  regulate  the  machine  according  to  the 
maker's  instructions  and  run  it  for  forty-eight 
hours  to  be  quite  sure  that  the  regulator  is  prop- 
erly adjusted,  before  putting  in  the  eggs. 
Gather  eggs  intended  for  hatching  several 
times  a  day,  to  prevent  their  being  chilled. 
Keep  in  an  even  temperature,  small  end  down- 
wards, in  a  shallow  box  of  bran.  Use  before 
they  are  a  week  old. 

If  the  eggs  are  sent  for  from  a  long  dis- 
tance, let  them  stand  twenty-four  hours  before 

388 


THE    EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

setting.  Watch  the  air-space  in  the  large  ends 
of  eggs  which  are  being  incubated. 

It  is  the  best  guide  to  follow  in  adjusting 
the  ventilators  in  the  incubator.  If  a  broody 
hen  can  be  found,  set  her  at  the  same  time 
that  you  start  the  incubator,  then  compare  the 
eggs  under  her  from  time  to  time,  with  those 
in  the  machine.  Never  neglect  to  air  and 
turn  the  eggs  in  the  incubator  night  and  morn- 
ing. 

Don't  open  the  machine  after  the  morning  of 
the  twentieth  day  until  the  morning  of  the 
twenty-second,  when  the  chicks  should  all  be 
out  of  the  shell.  It  won't  hurt  those  that  hatch 
first  to  stay  in  the  incubator,  but  opening  a  door 
to  take  them  out  would  allow  moisture  to  es- 
cape, and  retard  the  remaining  eggs  from 
hatching. 

Garden. — The  sap  will  soon  be  rising  in  the 
maples.  Bore,  and  hang  cans  to  catch  the  sirup. 
Time  will  be  saved  if  a  diagram  of  the  garden  is 
made  on  a  large  sheet  of  paper.  Decide  how 
much  space  is  to  be  given  to  each  variety,  and 

389 


THE   EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

what  second  crops  can  be  grown.  For  instance, 
early  peas  will  have  been  used  by  the  end  of 
June,  and  their  place  can  be  taken  by  a  second 
sowing  of  cucumbers  and  lettuce-plants.  The 
first  sowing  of  beans  can  be  followed  in  July  by 
turnips,  Brussels  sprouts,  or  celery. 

Make  out  lists  of  vegetable-  and  flower-seeds. 
It  is  better  to  order  now,  when  you  are  sure  of 
getting  the  variety  you  want,  which  is  not  al- 
ways so  later  in  the  season. 

Cabbage,  cauliflower,  onions,  lettuce,  egg- 
plant, and  several  other  vegetables  can  be 
started  now,  either  in  a  hotbed,  or,  failing 
that,  in  boxes  in  a  sunny  window  of  a  warm 
room.  Some  flower-seeds  should  be  started  in 
the  same  way,  to  insure  early  blooming  in  the 
garden  if  annuals  are  depended  upon.  Seed- 
boxes  need  not  be  more  than  two  inches  deep. 
Bore  holes  in  the  bottom;  cover  over  with  a 
layer  of  dry  moss  or  coarse  ashes,  and  fill  up 
with  potted  mould. 

A  general  rule  is  to  cover  seeds  not  more 
than  their  own  depth.  Press  the  earth  down 

390 


THE    EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

with  a  strip  of  wood  or  ordinary  desk  blotter, 
and  keep  the  surface  moderately  moist. 

Make  cuttings  from  house-plants,  and  start 
in  shallow  dishes  or  boxes,  for  potting-plants 
later  in  the  season. 


MARCH 

Gutters  and  all  waterways  about  the  house 
and  buildings  should  be  cleared  to  insure  a  clear 
passage  for  the  thawing  ice. 

Inside  work  of  all  kinds  should  be  finished 
off,  for  there  will  be  no  time  later. 

Barn  and  Stock. — The  barn,  stables  and  poul- 
try-houses should  be  opened  a  few  minutes 
earlier  each  day  during  the  month,  but  don't  be 
in  too  great  a  hurry  to  throw  off  winter  care  of 
stock.  March  is  such  an  uncertain  month,  it  is 
best  not  to  be  beguiled  by  its  sunshine. 

Examine  ensilage.  Warm  days  may  cause  it 
to  turn  sour. 

Fork  over  manure  and  make  ready  to  cart. 
Clear  up  barns,  hay-mows,  and  root-cellar. 

391 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

Poultry. — Old  hens  will  be  getting  broody. 
Set  all  you  can,  even  if  you  are  going  to  use  an 
incubator,  for  they  are  the  best  foster-mothers 
for  turkeys,  geese  and  ducks,  and  the  eight  or 
nine  weeks  which  are  occupied  by  hatching  and 
brooding  give  the  hens  a  thorough  rest,  which 
renews  their  vigor  for  egg  production.  Of  late 
years  eggs  have  been  worth  nearly  as  much  in 
June  and  July  as  in  November  and  December. 

Have  the  brooders  for  motherless  babies 
cleaned  and  whitewashed  for  each  new  lot  of 
chicks  that  are  to  be  put  into  them.  The  tem- 
perature should  be  95  degrees  for  the  first  week ; 
98  to  100  won't  hurt  on  cold  nights,  but  let  in 
plenty  of  fresh  air  during  the  sunny  hours  of 
the  day.  Encourage  the  little  ones  to  scratch 
by  putting  fresh  sweepings  from  the  hay-mow 
into  the  playroom  every  day. 

Don't  risk  open  drinking  dishes.  THey 
nearly  always  cause  trouble.  If  the  chicks 
don't  actually  get  drowned,  they  are  sure  to  get 
wet  and  chilled,  and  a  chilled  chick  is  a  sick 
chick. 

392 


THE    EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

If  you  mean  to  increase  your  flock  of  pigeons, 
keep  the  squabs  hatched  this  month,  for  they 
will  be  the  best  breeders  next  winter. 

Farm  Crops. — Sow  clover  seed  at  the  rate  of 
ten  pounds  to  an  acre,  on  the  land  sown  with 
grass-seed  last  fall.  The  alternating  thaw  and 
freeze  will  carry  it  into  the  ground  just  deep 
enough  to  insure  quick  germination.  Start 
plowing  all  ground  to  be  cultivated,  just  as  soon 
as  the  weather  will  permit. 

Garden. — If  the  ground  for  the  vegetable 
garden  was  not  plowed  last  fall,  it  must  be  done 
now.  Don't  be  in  too  great  a  hurry — wait  until 
the  soil  is  in  condition,  or  you  will  regret  it  all 
the  season.  It  should  be  just  moist  enough  to 
gradually  fall  apart  after  being  squeezed  in 
your  hand.  If  it  holds  in  a  solid  ball,  it  is  too 
wet ;  if  it  crumbles  to  dust,  too  dry.  After  plow- 
ing, harrow  and  harrow,  then  roll  until  finely 
pulverized.  There  is  no  economy  in  shirking 
preparation  of  garden  soil,  for  it  is  more  than 
half  the  season's  work. 

Save  poultry  droppings  to  be  used  to  fertilize 
393 


THE   EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

the  ground  intended  for  onions  or  other  bulb 
crops. 

Towards  the  middle  of  the  month  remove 
mulch  from  asparagus  and  rhubarb.  An  ex- 
tra-early supply  of  both  can  be  obtained  by 
covering  a  few  roots  with  barrels  which 
have  had  the  ends  knocked  out,  and  piling 
up  fresh  manure  around  the  sides.  If  new 
asparagus  is  to  be  used,  select  well-drained  land, 
plow  deeply,  and  then  make  trenches  every 
three  feet,  thoroughly  pulverizing  the  soil  to  a 
depth  of  21/2  or  3  feet,  by  removing  part  of  it, 
mixing  it  with  manure,  and  replacing.  If  seed 
is  used  (and  I  think  it  is  much  the  best),  sow 
one  inch  apart,  two  inches  deep,  and  thin  the 
plants  later  in  the  season  to  six  inches  apart. 
If  the  ground  has  been  well  enriched,  and  the 
plants  have  been  diligently  cultivated  through- 
out the  season,  a  light  crop  of  small  stalks  can 
be  cut  the  following  year,  but  an  entire  crop  will 
not  be  obtained  until  the  third  season.  If  two- 
year-old  plants  are  used,  set  six  inches  apart  in 
rows,  and  cover  three  inches  deep.  A  fair  crop 

394 


,THE   EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

can  be  cut  the  following  spring.  But  I  don't 
think  the  subsequent  season's  crop  as  good  as 
when  seed  is  used. 

If  the  weather  is  favorable,  peas,  carrots, 
beets,  turnips  and  onions  can  be  sown. 

Sow  tomatoes  or  peppers  in  hotbed  or  boxes 
in  the  house,  and  a  few  cucumber  and  melon 
seeds  on  sods  to  be  kept  either  in  the  hot- 
bed  or  in  the  house.  Ventilate  hotbeds,  and 
shade  from  the  sun. 

Dormant  trees  and  shrubs  should  be  in  the 
ground  by  the  15th.  Fertilize  and  dig  around 
rose-trees,  shrubs,  and  all  plants  that  remain 
in  the  ground  during  winter. 

Currants,  gooseberries  and  raspberries  should 
be  sprayed  or  powdered  during  the  last  week  of 
the  month.  I  prefer  using  the  copper-sulphur 
solution. 


April  is  such  a  busy  month  that  it  really  seems 
as  if  it  should  have  ninety  instead  of  its  or- 
dained thirty  days.  The  only  way  to  come  out 

395 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

at  all  even  is  to  rise  a  little  ahead  of  the  sun, 
and  forget  to  notice  when  it  disappears.  There 
are  such  multitudes  of  things,  all  of  which  seem 
as  if  they  should  be  done  first.  This  is  especially 
so  when  the  weather  has  been  bad  in  March. 

Bees  will  be  getting  busy  in  the  hives,  and 
things  must  be  generally  cleared  up.  Remove 
any  dead  from  the  hive  and  entrance,  and  sup- 
ply sirup  made  from  sugar  and  water  or  melted 
honey,  if  it  seems  necessary. 

Finish  up  the  general  cleaning  around  lawn 
and  garden;  sweep  the  lawn,  trim  edges  of 
walks,  mend  trellises  and  tack  up  creepers. 
Dig  flower  beds,  and  get  in  order  for  planting. 

Hurry  through  the  carpentering  or  painting 
that  must  be  done. 

Clear  any  remaining  vegetables  out  of  the 
house-cellar,  and  let  in  fresh  air  to  dry  out  any 
vapors  left  from  winter  storage. 

Barn  and  Stock. — There  are  sure  to  be  lots 
of  baby  creatures  to  claim  attention  just  now. 
Take  calves  away  from  the  mothers  at  once,  and 
there  will  be  little  difficulty  in  teaching  them  to 

396 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

drink  out  of  a  pail.  Cows  and  stock  gen- 
erally can  be  turned  into  the  pasture  during 
the  day.  Gradually  decrease  the  quantity  of 
mash  feed  to  cows,  so  that  stall-feeding  can  be 
entirely  eliminated  by  May. 

Shear  sheep  and  goats. 

Dig  out  springs  and  other  drinking-places 
in  the  pasture,  and  destroy  as  many  wild- 
onion  roots  as  time  will  permit.  It  is  so  annoy- 
ing to  have  milk  and  butter  tainted  with  their 
objectionable  odor.  Increase  the  ewes'  feed. 

Poultry. — Drop  corn  from  the  hens'  rations; 
either  wheat,  barley  or  oats  can  take  its  place. 
If  the  hens  are  on  free  range,  meat  scraps  and 
green  bone  will  not  be  necessary,  as  they  can 
now  find  an  abundance  of  insects. 

Mow  the  grass  very  short  where  brood  coops 
are  to  stand,  or  place  them  on  sandy  soil  where 
the  drainage  is  good.  Close  the  coops  at  night, 
and  don't  open  in  the  morning  until  the  dew  is 
off  the  grass.  It  is  as  important  to  keep  young 
ducks  and  geese  from  getting  wet  as  it  is 
chickens.  The  ready-mixed  chick  food  (of 

397 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

which  there  are  several  brands)  is  the  most  suit- 
able food,  and  much  safer  than  the  old-fash- 
ioned soft  food,  which  readily  sours  in  warm 
weather. 

Farm  Crops. — Prepare  ground  for  field 
crops  by  plowing,  then  harrowing  three  times, 
with  nine  days  between  each.  It  is  the  only  sure 
way  to  free  the  ground  from  weeds.  If  the 
first  sowing  of  Essex  rape  is  made  before  the 
end  of  the  month,  it  will  be  ready  to  use  when 
the  pasture  commences  to  get  short  towards  the 
end  of  June.  Hurry  in  oats  and  potatoes ;  give 
grass-land  and  rye-fields  a  dressing  of  nitrate 
of  soda. 

Garden. — Uncover  strawberry  beds  and  cul- 
tivate between  rows. 

Flowers  or  vegetables  in  glass  houses  will 
need  plenty  of  ventilation,  and  the  glass  thickly 
sprinkled  with  whitewash  to  modulate  the  glare 
of  the  sun. 

Get  sods  to  pack  for  future  use  in  violet 
house,  and  take  out  old  violet  roots. 

Start  a  few  more  seed-boxes,  for  unless  the 
398 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

weather  is  unusually  favorable,  it  is  not  safe  to 
sow  in  the  open  ground  as  yet.  In  fact,  most 
of  the  small  seeds  are  better  raised  in  the  house 
and  transplanted  to  the  open  ground  after  they 
have  got  their  second  or  third  leaves. 

Flowers  or  vegetables  sown  in  hotbeds  or 
boxes  in  February  or  March  will  require  prick- 
ing out  into  fresh  boxes,  which  must  be  a  little 
deeper  than  the  seed-trays.  An  inch  each  way 
is  sufficient  space  for  average  seedlings. 

All  the  hardier  seeds,  such  as  peas,  onions, 
beets,  carrots,  turnips,  spinach  and  lettuce,  can 
be  sown  early  in  the  month. 

Plants  which  have  been  wintered  in  cold 
frames  should  be  got  about  the  15th,  and  a  little 
later  lettuce,  cabbage,  cauliflower  and  sprouts 
from  hotbed. 

MAY 

Place  a  pan  of  water  near  the  beehives.  The 
workers  are  thirsty  little  people,  and  will  ap- 
preciate the  attention.  Swarming  will  be 

399 


THE   EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

checked  considerably  if  the  body  of  an  empty 
hive  is  placed  under  the  occupied  one,  after  the 
flow  of  honey  has  started. 

Regular  cutting  and  rolling  of  the  lawn  now, 
when  the  grass  is  making  quick  growth,  will  in- 
crease its  density. 

Barn  and  Stock. — Staved  silos  which  are 
empty  should  have  the  nuts  tightened,  and  any 
necessary  repairs  made.  If  many  cattle  are 
being  kept,  it  is  advisable  to  fill  a  small  silo  with 
early  crops,  to  tide  over  the  dry  season  of  mid- 
summer. Clover,  rye  and  rape  will  answer, 
though  it  is  better  to  have  a  succession  of  the 
latter  to  cut  fresh. 

Young  horses  which  are  to  be  used  for  the 
first  time  should  be  treated  carefully.  They  are 
unaccustomed  to  exercise,  and  cannot  stand  it 
like  old,  experienced  animals.  Give  them  light 
work  at  first,  and  short  hours. 

Brood  mares  with  young  foals  should  have 
strengthening  feed  for  a  week  or  ten  days, 
but  not  much  hay,  as  it  militates  against  their 

regaining  correct  proportions. 

400 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

Remove  sows  near  their  time  to  a  quiet  segre- 
gated pen.  Keep  an  abundant  supply  of  rock 
salt  accessible  to  all  cattle ;  it  is  especially  neces- 
sary in  the  spring.  Small  May  flies  are  almost 
more  torturous  to  cattle  than  any  of  their  larger 
relatives  which  arrive  later  in  the  season,  so  in 
mercy  to  the  poor  creatures,  protect  them  as 
much  as  possible. 

Don't  be  in  too  great  a  hurry  to  stop  feeding 
young  stock;  just  a  little  hay  or  grain  at  sup- 
per time  brings  them  up  to  the  crew-yard,  keeps 
them  tame,  and  insures  steady  growth.  Pro- 
vide shelters  in  the  pastures,  for  both  young  and 
old  cattle  love  noon  siestas  when  protected  from 
the  sun. 

Poultry.  —  Clean  and  whitewash  poultry- 
houses.  Slake  the  lime  with  boiling  water. 
Add  an  ounce  of  crude  carbolic  acid  to  every 
pailful,  and  use  while  hot.  If  powdering  the 
hens  has  been  neglected  during  the  winter,  make 
up  for  it  now.  It  is  the  multiplying  season  for 
insects  as  well  as  other  creatures.  If  there  are 

any  little  chicks  which  look  delicate,  add  a  little 

401 


THE   EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

tincture  of  iron  or  a  few  rusty  nails  to  the 
drinking-water. 

Ducklings  and  goslins  should  have  more 
oats  and  green  food  than  corn.  Add  bone 
meal  to  the  mash — a  tablespoonful  to  the 
quart,  and  add  a  tablespoonful  of  lime-water 
to  every  quart  of  drinking-water.  Keep  coops 
dry,  and  provide  shelters  to  protect  them  from 
the  sun. 

Don't  neglect  the  half -grown  chickens,  for 
if  you  do,  it  will  materially  aifect  the  egg- 
basket  next  fall.  It  is  better  to  steal  the  first 
eggs  from  the  turkeys'  and  guinea-fowls'  nests, 
and  set  them  under  common  hens. 

Farm  Crops. — Sow  the  ground  prepared 
last  month  for  carrots,  in  rows  eighteen 
inches  apart,  and  later  thin  plants  to  six  inches 
apart. 

Mangel-wurtzels  are  a  staple  root-crop  for 
cattle,  and  should  not  be  neglected.  Sow  in  rows 
twenty-four  inches  apart,  and  thin  plants  to 
nine  inches  apart.  Corn,  both  for  grain  and 
silo,  should  be  in  by  the  15th.  Cow-peas  for 

402 


THE   EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

fodder  or  silo  should  be  planted  in  rows  from 
twenty- four  to  thirty  inches  apart.  Soja  beans 
need  rows  2V2  feet  apart;  about  eight  beans  to 
every  foot.  Plant  the  main  or  winter  crop  of 
potatoes. 

Garden. — Plant  dahlia  and  gladiola  bulbs. 
Most  of  the  seedlings  which  can  be  reared  in  the 
house  or  hotbed  can  be  planted  out  by  the  15th, 
and  large  plants  which  have  been  wintered  in 
the  house  can  follow  suit  by  the  end  of  the 
month.  It  is  better  to  leave  the  plants  in  the 
pots,  and  submerge  to  the  brim  in  the  soil.  The 
following  seeds  can  be  sown  in  the  open  ground : 
Mignonette,  phlox,  petunias,  nasturtiums,  bal- 
sams, castor  beans,  wild  cucumber,  hyacinth 
beans. 

Put  a  heavy  mulch  of  clean  straw  or  lawn 
clippings  between  the  plants  in  the  strawberry 
beds. 

Bed  out  egg-plants,  peppers  and  tomatoes 
after  the  15th.  The  sods  containing  cucum- 
ber and  melon  can  also  go  into  the  open  ground. 
Cucumber,  okra,  sweet  corn,  melon  and  squash 

403 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

seeds  should  all  be  sowed  about  the  same  time, 
also  string  and  Lima  beans. 

Thin  out  the  crops  started  last  month,  sow 
more  peas,  lettuce,  spinach,  also  late  cabbage 
and  celery. 

Keep  a  vigilant  lookout  for  insects.  It  is  bet- 
ter to  use  Paris  green  and  lime  or  tobacco  dust 
as  a  preventive,  than  to  wait  until  there  are 
sure  evidences  of  trouble. 

Don't  shirk  the  hoe  and  rake.  Constant  cul- 
tivation is  the  keynote  of  successful  gardening. 

JUNE 

Feminine  farmers  will  have  to  steal  a  little 
time  now  from  the  outdoor  work,  or  there  will  be 
a  dearth  of  good  things  in  the  winter.  Straw- 
berries should  be  gathered  when  just  ripe,  but 
before  they  commence  to  soften  in  the  slightest 
degree.  If  the  beds  have  been  covered  early  in 
the  season  with  straw  or  grass,  the  fruit  will  not 
need*  washing,  which  robs  it  of  so  much  flavor. 
Spread  the  fruit  on  large  platters,  sprinkle  with 

404 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

granulated  sugar,  and  stand  out  of  doors  on  a 
table  placed  in  the  full  glare  of  the  sun.  To 
prevent  flies  or  dust  settling  on  the  fruit  or 
sugar,  we  cover  the  dishes  with  panes  of  or- 
dinary window-glass.  The  dishes  must  be  taken 
in  before  the  sun  goes  down,  and  put  out  before 
it  is  high  in  the  morning,  for  three  days  in  suc- 
cession. When  the  fruit  and  sirup  is  ready, 
pack  into  jars,  of  course  screwing  down  tightly 
as  with  other  preserves. 

Poultry. — The  hens  which  you  intend  to  keep 
for  winter  layers  should  be  turned  out  to  forage 
for  their  own  living  during  the  latter  half  of 
this  month.  It  is  the  preparatory  step  in  the 
treatment  necessary  to  bring  about  early  moult- 
ing. 

Hens  over  one  year  old  should  be  penned, 
fattened  and  marketed,  to  make  room  for 
young  stock. 

Farm  Crops. — Canada  peas,  sown  in  April, 
should  be  ready  to  cut  for  green  fodder.  Make 
a  first  sowing  of  Japanese  millet  about  the  15th. 
After  the  10th  hay  can  usually  be  cut.  Don't 

405 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

risk  cutting  more  than  your  staff  of  help  can 
handle  readily  in  case  of  bad  weather. 

Grass  that  is  allowed  to  stand  until  it  is  turned 
into  hay  loses  half  its  food  value,  so  cut  early. 
Late  potatoes  can  still  be  planted.  Rape  sown 
early  in  the  season  will  be  ready  to  cut  or  turn 
cattle  into. 

Garden. — If  an  old-fashioned  flower-garden 
is  desired  next  year,  now  is  the  time  to  start  it 
by  sowing  seeds  of  perennials,  such  as  colum- 
bine, bluebells,  candytuft,  sweet-william,  helio- 
trope and  many  others  which  can  be  selected 
from  any  seedman's  catalogue. 

Shrubs  that  have  done  flowering  should  be 
trimmed,  as  it  is  of  growth  made  this  year  that 
next  year's  flowers  are  born. 

Hyacinths,  tulips,  daffodils  and  other  spring 
bulbs  can  be  taken  up,  and  either  stored  or 
divided  and  replanted. 

Strawberries  will  be  making  runners.  Peg 
down  as  many  of  the  small  plants  as  you  will 
be  likely  to  need  for  new  beds,  and  cut  back  all 
others. 

406 


THE    EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

The  ends  of  raspberry  and  blackberry  canes 
should  be  pegged  to  the  ground  now  to  make 
roots. 

Poison  Bordeaux  mixture,  applied  through  a 
spraying  machine,  will  check  tent-caterpillar 
and  such  foliage  pests. 

Dust  the  potato  vines  with  Paris  green  and 
lime,  mixed  in  equal  parts.  Prune  tomato  plants 
to  two  or  three  main  stalks,  and  tie  to  sticks  or 
mulch  heavily  around  each  plant. 

Plant  succession  crops — beans,  peas,  beets, 
corn,  cucumber,  lettuce,  Brussels  sprouts,  etc., 
etc. 

Work  every  unoccupied  inch  of  ground,  and 
keep  down  weeds.  It  is  much  easier  to  destroy 
them  in  their  embryo  condition  than  to  have 
them  establish  roots. 

JULY 

Rigid  supervision  of  the  back  premises  should 
be  exercised  during  this  month,  to  prevent  flies 
and  mosquitoes  finding  congenial  breeding- 

407 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

places.  A  small  hole  or  an  empty  can  in  which 
rain  water  has  lodged  may  be  the  means  of  in- 
festing the  premises  with  myriads  of  the  tor- 
turous pests.  The  government  has  been  doing 
heroic  work  to  try  and  remove  the  greatest 
nuisance  of  our  summers,  but  as  the  wretched 
things  are  faithful  to  the  place  of  their  birth, 
every  individual  home  should  join  in  the  cru- 
sade. I  once  read — or  was  told — that  castor 
beans,  planted  near  the  house,  keep  away  flies 
and  most  insects,  and  as  they  are  gorgeous  trop- 
ical-looking plants,  which  grow  very  rapidly, 
we  have  for  years  planted  them  in  all  the  avail- 
able places  around  the  kitchen  quarters  and  out- 
buildings. Whether  it  is  their  presence,  or  the 
perpetual  war  we  wage  on  suspected  breeding- 
places,  I  don't  know,  but  visitors  invariably 
notice  how  free  from  flies  and  such  things  our 
place  is. 

Barn  and  Stock. — The  barn  and  cow-stables 
— in  fact,  all  the  outbuildings — are  virtually  de- 
serted at  this  season  of  the  year,  for  it  is  very 
much  better  to  let  the  cows  sleep  in  the  open  air 

408 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

if  there  are  shelter-sheds  in  the  pasture  to 
protect  them  from  thunder  showers.  Have  a 
paddock  adjoining  the  horse-stables,  and  let 
even  the  horses  enjoy  the  freedom  of  an  evening 
frolic,  and  nights  a  la  Nature.  Everything  be- 
ing out  at  night,  it  is  obviously  the  time  to  make 
repairs  and  improvements  in  the  buildings. 

Do  try  and  arrange  some  method  by  which 
running  water  can  be  had  in  the  barn  next  win- 
ter ;  it  is  such  a  comfort  to  the  men  and  cattle. 

Pastures  will  be  getting  light  towards  the  end 
of  the  month,  and  it  is  well  to  feed  grain  fodder, 
such  as  rape  or  Canada  peas. 

Poultry. — Hens  turned  out  to  forage  last 
month  should  now  be  given  a  morning  mash  and 
a  supper  of  wheat  or  barley.  The  return  to 
heavy  food  will  start  them  moulting  several 
weeks  earlier  than  would  be  the  case  if  kept  on 
a  uniform  diet.  An  early  moulting  insures 
winter  eggs. 

Sort  out  the  young  stock.  Keep  the  bright, 
active  pullets  for  stock,  and  any  extra  good 
cockerels.  Pen  and  fatten  and  market  the  re- 

409 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

mainder  to  prevent  crowding.    July  is  a  good 
month  to  caponize  cockerels  for  winter  roasters. 

Don't  fail  to  feed  young  turkeys  at  night. 
Young  ducks  must  be  sheltered  from  heavy 
thunder  showers;  so  must  baby  guineas  and 
pheasants. 

farm  Crops. — Harvest  field  carrots,  and  use 
the  ground  for  rape  and  Japanese  millet.  Plant 
out  winter  cabbage.  Hill  up  potatoes.  Culti- 
vate field  corn  for  the  last  time.  Purple-topped 
turnips  may  be  sown  between  the  rows. 

Garden.  —  Gladiola  and  other  plants  that 
throw  up  tall  flower-stalks  must  be  tied  up  to 
stakes. 

Cut  out  seed-stalks  in  asparagus  bed,  and 
fork  in  manure. 

Strawberry  runners  rooted  last  month  should 
now  be  cut  from  the  parent  plant  and  trans- 
planted to  their  permanent  home. 

Powder  grapevines  with  sulphur  if  there  is 
any  sign  of  mildew,  and  thin  out  the  bunches. 
Apples,  pears  and  other  fruits  will  also  be  im- 
proved if  the  small  ones  are  removed. 

410 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

It  is  best  to  cut  out  the  old  canes  in  the  black- 
berry and  raspberry  patch  now,  whilst  they  are 
easily  distinguished  from  the  new  shoots  on 
which  you  depend  for  next  year's  supply  of 
berries. 


Whitewash  the  cellar,  and  if  the  floor  is  just 
earthed,  spread  a  thick  layer  of  clean  dry  sand 
over  it.  Make  a  few  racks  of  2x2  scantling  for 
barrels  and  boxes  to  stand  on  that  are  going  to 
hold  fruit  or  vegetables.  The  racks  should  be 
from  nine  to  twelve  inches  from  the  ground,  to 
allow  free  circulation  of  air.  Commence  to  col- 
lect barrels  and  boxes  from  the  grocerymen; 
you  will  not  have  to  a  little  later.  Watering- 
wells  and  cisterns  will  be  at  their  lowest  by  this 
month,  so  it  is  a  good  time  to  have  them  cleaned 
out. 

Earn  and  Stock. — Continue  such  work  as  was 
left  over  from  last  month.  Get  the  engine  and 
cutting-machine  in  order  for  filling  the  silo. 

411 


THE   EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

Farm  Crops. — Sow  the  lawn  with  permanent 
grass  mixture  at  the  rate  of  2^/z  bushels  per  acre. 
If  July  was  a  wet  month,  most  good  hay  fields 
will  yield  a  second  crop,  which  should  be  cut 
now.  A  second  cutting  of  rape  is  due  from  a 
field  sowed  and  cut  earlier  in  the  season.  The 
Soja  bean  sown  in  May  and  Japanese  millet 
sown  in  late  June  or  early  July  should  both  be 
cut  and  mixed  for  cow  fodder.  It  can  be  made 
into  hay  or  straw  in  the  silo.  The  latter  is  the 
best  when  there  is  a  silo,  but  when  there  is  not, 
or  when  the  crop  overruns  its  capacity,  hay 
made  from  the  mixture  is  superior  to  all  other 
fodder  for  all  cattle,  whether  cows,  goats  or 
sheep. 

Garden. — In  the  flower-garden  there  is  gen- 
erally but  little  tidying  or  cultivating  to  be  done, 
but  that  should  be  conscientiously  attended  to, 
or  the  season  will  be  cut  short  very  summarily. 
In  the  vegetable  garden  it  is  much  the  same. 
August  is  a  sort  of  continuation  of  July  wrork, 
and  a  sort  of  watching  for  things  to  reach  their 
zenith. 

412 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY, 


SEPTEMBER 

Barn  and  Stock. — It  is  time  to  feed  a  little 
grain  at  night.  Commence  to  fatten  pigs.  Small 
potatoes  and  other  unmarketable  roots,  boiled, 
partly  mashed,  and  mixed  with  middlings  or 
shorts,  is  good  stable  diet.  Surplus  fallings  of 
apples  and  other  fruits  will  be  relished  by  the 
pigs,  and  are  wholesome  fatteners.  Don't  for- 
get that  clean  cold  water  to  drink,  and  a  big  pan 
of  wet  ashes  once  or  twice  a  week,  aids  digestion 
and  keeps  the  animals  in  good  condition. 

Poultry. — Look  over  the  exteriors  of  poultry- 
houses  for  cracks  and  holes;  small  draughts 
cause  cold  and  croup. 

Choose  a  bright,  dry  day  to  gather  fallen 
leaves,  and  store  to  use  as  scratching  material 
on  the  floor  through  the  winter. 

Two  tablespoonsful  of  oil  meal  to  every 
quart  of  morning  mash  will  help  the  moulting 
hens  to  grow  new  feathers.  Ten  birds  well- 
housed  will  give  better  results  than  twenty  in 

413 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

cramped  quarters.  A  pen  12x12  is  about  right 
for  fifteen  hens. 

Guinea-fowl  and  turkeys  should  have  an 
evening  meal,  and  be  encouraged  to  roost  in  a 
house  or  shed. 

Farm  Crops. — This  is  the  busy  harvest  month. 
Buckwheat  should  be  cut  when  it  commences  to 
turn  brown.  Leave  it  in  sheaves  to  dry.  When 
ready,  spread  a  sheet  over  the  hayrack.  Take 
up  each  sheaf  carefully,  and  when  the  load  has 
been  collected,  drive  at  once  to  the  barn  and 
thresh.  We  have  always  used  the  flail  in  prefer- 
ence to  a  machine  for  buckwheat,  because  the 
latter  crushes  the  grain.  Choose  a  bright,  dry 
day,  for  buckwheat  is  extremely  susceptible  to 
moisture,  and  it  is  difficult  to  thresh  if  the  at- 
mosphere is  not  clear. 

Cut  silage  crops  and  fill  the  silo.  Mature 
corn  should  be  cut  before  frost  robs  the  stalks 
of  food  value.  But  don't  shell  the  ears  until 
the  milk  is  all  dried  out  of  the  kernels. 

Plowing  now  not  only  facilitates  work  in 
the  spring,  but  materially  improves  the  qual- 

414 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

ity  and  texture  of  the  soil,  especially  on  damp 
clayey  lands.  Sowing  rye  on  poor  land  now, 
and  plowing  it  under  in  the  spring  as  green 
manure,  will  prevent  leaching  and  enrich  the 
soil. 

Garden. — If  it  has  not  yet  been  established, 
commence  a  compost  heap  at  once.  Dead  leaves, 
seeds,  clippings  from  the  vegetable  and  flower- 
garden,  small  seeds  and  all  such  addments,  piled 
in  alternate  layers  with  cow  manure,  and  kept 
moist  in  some  out-of-the-way  corner,  will  decay 
quickly,  and  furnish  just  the  right  fibrous  kind 
of  fertilizer  to  mix  with  light  soil  for  potting 
mould,  which  should  be  stored  under  cover  for 
use  during  the  winter.  It  will  be  needed  for 
house-plants  and  seed-boxes. 

Don't  neglect  to  hoe  because  the  season  is 
drawing  to  a  close.  Cabbage,  cauliflower  and 
sprouts  need  it  especially. 

Harvest  onions  without  delay.  They  are  ripe 
when  the  tops  look  dry  and  fall  over.  After 
digging,  leave  in  the  sun  and  air  several  hours 
to  dry.  Before  storing,  cut  off  tops  and  roots. 

415 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

Earth  up  celery;  sow  spinach  and  winter 
turnips  before  the  10th.  Thin  out  turnips  sown 
last  month.  Sow  spinach,  Scotch  kale  and 
Brussels  sprouts  for  early  spring  use. 

Sow  seeds  of  cauliflower,  cabbage  and  lettuce 
for  plants  to  be  wintered  in  a  cold  frame.  Set 
out  a  bed  of  multipliers  (onions).  They  will 
furnish  young  green  onions  in  April,  before  it 
is  possible  to  get  them  in  any  other  way. 

Dig  up  potatoes  on  a  dry  day,  and  take  at 
once  to  a  dark  shed  or  room;  spread  out  on  the 
floor  for  several  days  before  storing  for  winter. 
Don't  make  the  common  mistake  of  leaving 
potatoes  in  the  full  light  to  dry.  It  is  very  apt 
to  turn  the  ends  green. 

Late  tomatoes  should  be  gathered  and  packed 
between  layers  of  paper  and  kept  in  a  cold,  dry 
place;  they  will  ripen  gradually,  often  lasting 
until  Christmas.  Melons,  cucumbers  and  squash 
should  be  gathered,  or  covered  at  night. 

Strawberry  plants  set  out  early  this  month 
will  bear  next  season.  Keep  the  runners  cut 
back  on  old  plants  in  permanent  beds;  it  will 

416 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

materially  increase  the  crop  next  year.  Culti- 
vate between  the  rows  and  keep  down  weeds. 

Gather  peppers,  even  if  they  are  still  green. 
Tie  them  on  to  a  long,  thick  string,  and  hang  up 
like  clothes,  on  a  line  across  the  garret,  or  some 
cool,  dry  place.  They  will  ripen  slowly,  and 
even  when  quite  dry  will  be  invaluable  for 
flavoring  savory  dishes.  If  there  is  still  a  sup- 
ply of  young  okra  in  the  garden,  gather  the 
small  pods  and  string  on  a  coarse  thread  until 
dry;  then  put  in  paper  bags  for  use  in  stews  and 
soups. 

September  is  a  very  dangerous  month  for 
flowering  plants.  The  days  are  warm,  yet  a 
sharp  frost  may  come  any  night,  so  discretion 
suggests  the  potting  of  all  tender  plants,  and 
taking  them  under  cover  at  night. 

Old  pots  should  be  thoroughly  scrubbed,  and 
new  ones  soaked  in  water  for  twenty- four  hours 
before  using,  if  you  would  have  early  flowers 
next  spring. 

Plant  such  bulbs  as  hyacinths,  narcissus,  jon- 
quils, crocuses  and  snowdrops.  Seeds  of  pop- 

417 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

pies,  mignonette  and  candytuft  should  be  sown 
now  for  next  year's  flowering.  Divide  old  and 
plant  new  roots  of  peonies. 

Make  cuttings  from  geraniums,  fuchsias  and 
roses.  Large  geraniums  not  wanted  for  the 
house  can  be  wintered  safely,  if  hung  up  by  the 
roots  in  a  frost-proof  cellar. 

OCTOBER 

Barn  and  Stock. — Tools,  machines  and  im- 
plements of  all  kinds  should  be  cleaned,  rubbed 
over  with  kerosene  oil,  and  put  under  shelter. 
Look  each  machine  over  carefully;  note  any 
worn  or  broken  parts,  so  they  can  be  sent  for 
and  replaced  during  the  winter,  when  outside 
work  is  impossible.  Waiting  for  a  new  share 
of  a  plow  or  blade  of  a  mower  often  throws  work 
back  two  or  three  weeks,  in  the  height  of  the 
season.  In  farming  and  garden  work,  fore- 
thought makes  profitable  success. 

Hot-house  lambs  should  be  appearing  in  Sep- 
tember and  October.  Ground  oats  and  corn, 

418 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

and  skim-milk  to  drink,  will  bring  golden  prices 
in  December  and  January.  Feed  the  ewes  well, 
and  let  there  be  a  good  percentage  of  succulent 
roots  whilst  weaning  their  young.  Economy 
in  feeding  is  poor  policy  in  feeding  market 
animals. 

Poultry.  —  Commence  to  fatten  birds  for 
Thanksgiving  and  Christmas.  Soft  mashes 
made  of  scalded  milk,  in  which  chopped  suet  has 
been  boiled,  and  milk  instead  of  water  to  drink, 
will  produce  juicy,  well-flavored  meat.  Corn- 
meal,  small  potatoes,  boiled  and  mashed,  are 
good  foundations  for  a  mash.  If  you  have 
plenty  of  windfalls  in  the  orchard,  chop  them 
up  for  noon  feed.  They  are  fattening,  and 
supply  the  vegetable  food  which  is  essential. 
The  secret  of  successful  flesh-building  is,  not  to 
satiate  the  victims.  Give  only  what  they  will 
eat  within  fifteen  minutes,  and  provide  as  much 
variety  as  possible.  The  last  nine  days,  feed 
four  or  five  times  a  day,  and  increase  the  amount 
of  moisture  in  the  mash.  A  tablespoonful  of 
charcoal  in  every  two  quarts  of  mash  once  a  day, 

419 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

prevents  indigestion.  Cracked  corn,  buckwheat 
or  barley,  may  be  fed  at  supper  time  for  the  first 
two  weeks,  but  no  dry  corn  for  the  last  nine 
days.  Don't  depend  on  corn  alone,  for  that 
will  make  a  layer  of  internal  suety  fat,  instead 
of  flesh.  A  good  supper  for  the  laying  hens 
in  the  fall  is  equal  parts  of  whole  corn  and 
oats. 

Garden. — Lettuce,  cauliflower  and  cabbage 
seedlings  started  last  month  can  be  trans- 
planted into  the  cold  frame  about  the  20th.  Let 
them  stand  one  inch  apart.  Continue  to  earth 
up  celery.  By  the  end  of  the  month  the  first 
crop  for  fall  use  can  be  stored. 

Cut  asparagus  tops  and  burn  at  once.  Cul- 
tivate the  bed,  and  during  the  last  week  of  the 
month  cover  with  two  or  three  inches  of  coarse 
manure. 

Watch  the  strawberry  plants  set  out  in 
August  and  September,  and  remove  the  runners 
as  they  form.  If  the  season  is  cold,  commence 
to  dig  up  root  vegetables,  and  store  for  winter 
use — except  salsify  and  parsnips. 

420 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

We  have  three  tiers  of  troughs  running  the 
full  length  of  two  sides  of  the  cellar.  They  are 
a  foot  deep  and  wide,  made  of  common  boards, 
and  fastened  to  the  walls,  with  fifteen  inches 
space  between  the  tiers.  About  an  inch  of  sand 
is  spread  at  the  bottom,  and  then  such  roots  as 
carrots  and  parsnips  are  packed  to  stand  up- 
right, and  sand  filled  in  all  round  them.  This 
excludes  the  air,  and  prevents  the  shrinkage 
which  usually  takes  place  when  they  are  thrown 
higgledy-piggledy  into  a  bin. 

Should  you  have  a  cement  cellar  which  is 
very  dry,  one  or  two  bowls  kept  full  of  water 
will  supply  moisture.  If,  on  the  other  hand,  it 
is  a  damp  earthen  floor,  stands  pans  filled  with 
lime  in  the  corners,  renewing  it  every  few  weeks 
during  winter. 

Gather  parsley  and  sage,  and  other  herbs ;  dry 
thoroughly  by  spreading  on  papers  in  a  moder- 
ately cool  oven;  when  cold,  hang  up  in  paper 
bags  in  the  garret  or  storeroom. 

If  there  are  many  peas  or  string  beans  still 
on  the  vines,  pull  them  up  and  hang  by  the  roots 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

in  a  dark  shed  or  cellar,  safe  from  frost.  They 
will  keep  fresh  for  two  or  three  weeks. 

Pumpkins  and  winter  squash  will  keep  better 
if  gathered  and  placed  on  a  board  an  inch  or  so 
apart,  and  left  in  the  sun  to  thoroughly  ripen, 
of  course  covering  with  bags  or  hay  at  night. 

Clumps  of  rhubarb  or  asparagus,  taken  up 
and  placed  in  boxes  or  barrels  in  a  warm  cellar, 
will  furnish  a  supply  in  January,  when  they  are 
dainties.  Dig  up  endive,  keeping  plenty  of 
earth  around  the  roots,  and  set  close  together  on 
the  cellar  floor. 

Flowers. — Small  flowering  bulbs  must  now 
be  carefully  dug  up.  Don't  cut  or  pull  off  the 
stalks  until  they  are  withered  and  dead.  Then 
take  them  off  about  an  inch  from  the  bulb, 
using  a  sharp  pair  of  scissors.  Tigridias  and 
Ismenes  should  be  lifted  before  there  is  any 
danger  of  frost  touching  them.  They  keep 
best  when  planted  in  boxes  or  soil  which  can  be 
kept  in  a  warm  place.  Ours  go  into  the  back 
of  a  large  cupboard  by  the  kitchen  stove.  Glad- 
ioli would  not  be  hurt  by  a  slight  frost,  so  can 

422 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

wait  until  after  the  15th.  Spread  them  out  in 
a  sunny  place  to  dry,  then  put  in  paper  bags 
and  hang  up  in  the  garret. 

Canna  bulbs  are  the  most  difficult  to  keep 
over  safely.  Cut  down  the  tops,  and  cover 
thickly  with  leaves  or  straw,  placing  a  board 
raised  slightly  higher  at  one  end,  to  insure 
water  running  off.  Don't  dig  up  until  late 
in  November  or  early  in  December,  according 
to  the  season.  The  purpose  is  to  keep  them 
in  the  ground  as  long  as  possible.  But  of 
course  they  must  not  stay  when  there  is  any  dan- 
ger of  its  freezing  below  the  immediate  surface. 
Plant  them  in  boxes  of  earth,  and  ocasionally 
sprinkle  over  lightly,  if  the  earth  shows  signs 
of  being  dry  during  the  winter. 

Narcissus,  jonquils  and  lilies  should  now  be 
planted  in  pots,  watered  copiously,  and  placed 
in  a  dark  cupboard  to  root,  if  the  flowers  are 
wanted  at  Christmas  time — and  who  doesn't 
want  flowers  at  that  season.  Leave  them  in  the 
dark  for  four  or  five  weeks,  or  until  they  have 
made  a  good  growth;  after  which,  bring  them 

423 


THE   EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

into  a  subdued  light  for  about  a  week  before 
moving  into  the  full  light  of  a  south  window. 


NOVEMBER 

Poultry. — Winter  eggs  represent  the  major 
profits  in  poultry  farming,  so  every  effort 
should  be  made  to  insure  a  goodly  supply.  Sup- 
posing that  the  house  is  dry  and  draught-proof, 
the  birds  in  good  healthy  condition,  nothing  re- 
mains but  care  and  food.  Hens  will  soon  be- 
come debilitated  and  out  of  condition  when  shut 
up  in  winter  quarters,  if  worried  by  vermin, 
and  the  bright  fall  days  are  just  the  time  to 
wage  war  on  the  several  species  which  seem 
specially  created  to  torture  feathered  creatures. 
It  is  not  an  interesting  subject,  and  I  should 
like  to  skip  it,  but  the  unwary  amateur  must  be 
cautioned. 

Suffice  it  to  say  that  there  are  two  dis- 
tinct classes  of  these  pests:  one  which  lives 
on  the  birds  themselves,  the  others  habitants  of 
the  fixtures  and  walls.  Both  must  be  attacked 

424 


THE   EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

simultaneously  to  insure  the  birds'  comfort. 
Dalmatian  powder,  dusted  into  the  feathers 
from  an  ordinary  flour  dredger  whilst  the  bird 
is  held  by  the  feet,  head  downwards,  is  the  most 
effective  method  of  banishing  the  first  class. 
Powder  the  flock  every  night  for  a  week;  then 
twice  a  week  for  two  weeks.  If  the  work  is  done 
thoroughly,  and  in  conjunction  with  house- 
cleaning,  no  further  applications  should  be 
necessary  until  next  fall. 

The  lime,  carbolic  and  kerosened  whitewash, 
recommended  in  September,  will  have  kept  the 
walls  free  from  intruders,  if  it  has  been  dili- 
gently applied;  but  the  roofs,  cracks  and 
crevices  in  the  nent-boxes  or  other  fittings 
should  be  painted  twice  a  week  throughout  the 
year. 

Provide  dust-baths.  A  box  a  foot  and  a  half 
square  and  a  foot  deep,  half  filled  with  fine  ashes 
or  dry  earth,  and  placed  in  a  sunny  place,  will 
be  used  readily  by  the  birds,  and  should  be  re- 
plenished once  a  week. 

Exercise  is  as  essential  as  cleanliness.    Have 
425 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

plenty  of  dry  leaves  or  cut  straw  on  the  house 
and  scratching-shed  floors. 

A  common  lantern  with  one  half  of  the 
glass  painted  black  will  be  found  most  useful 
for  night  work  amongst  poultry,  for  by  carry- 
ing it  close  to  your  side,  and  turning  the  black 
side  to  the  fowls,  you  insure  their  not  being  dis- 
turbed or  frightened. 

Egg  Rations. — Morning  mash:  clover  hay, 
cut  into  half -inch  lengths  and  steamed  over 
night.  For  every  two  quarts,  add  one  quart  of 
ground  feed  (equal  parts  of  corn  and  oats, 
ground  together),  and  half  a  pint  of  oil 
meal. 

Noon:  cabbage  or  sweet  turnips  cut  in  half 
and  nailed  up  for  the  birds  to  peck  at.  One  pint 
of  millet  seed,  scattered  in  the  scratching 
material. 

Night :  all  the  whole  corn  the  birds  will  eat  in 
fifteen  minutes.  The  above  quantities  are  for 
about  fifty  hens,  and  constitute  our  Monday's, 
Wednesday's  and  Friday's  rations. 

Tuesday,  Thursday  and  Saturday  the  mash 
426 


THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

consists  of  equal  parts  of  bran  and  ground 
feed. 

Noon:  ground  green  bone  and  Kaffir  corn. 

Night:  whole  corn. 

Sunday  morning:  cracked  corn,  oats,  Kaffir 
corn  and  millet,  all  mixed,  and  scattered  in 
the  scratching  material.  No  noon  feed.  Sup- 
per: whole  corn  as  usual.  On  Sunday  a  large 
pan  of  milk  is  also  placed  in  each  compart- 
ment. When  there  are  only  a  few  hens,  table- 
scraps  make  a  good  noon  feed,  if  there  is  not  too 
much  potato  or  fat  amongst  them. 

Garden. — Pull  up  cabbage  and  pack  them 
heads  down  on  a  dry  place.  Cover  with  dry 
earth  and  increase  the  quantity  as  the  thermom- 
eter falls.  Too  early  or  heavy  cover  at  first  is 
a  mistake,  as  it  causes  cabbage  or  any  other 
vegetables  packed  in  this  way  to  heat. 

Choose  a  sheltered,  well-drained  situation, 
and  sow  peas  two  inches  deep.  Cover  before 
heavy  frost  with  leaves  or  bedding.  It  is  only  a 
chance,  but  it  has  only  failed  once  in  six  years 
with  us,  to  produce  peas  for  the  table  two  or 

427 


THE   EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

three  weeks  earlier  than  any  sown  the  following 
spring. 

Mulch  spinach,  sprouts,  kale  and  strawberry 
beds.  When  everything  has  been  stored  and 
bedded  for  winter,  manure  and  plow  the  vacant 
soil. 

Flowers. — Protect  all  plants  which  are  to  re- 
main in  the  ground;  get  ready,  by  fertilizing, 
digging  and  thoroughly  pulverizing  beds  to  be 
used  early  in  spring ;  make  a  deep  trench  by  re- 
moving about  two  feet  of  the  earth,  and  refill 
with  a  mixture  of  manure  and  the  original  soil. 
Then  sow  sweet  peas.  You  will  reap  twice  the 
ordinary  number  of  flowers  next  summer. 

If  you  intend  to  buy  any  house-plants,  get 
them  now,  before  they  have  been  accustomed  to 
the  artificial  heat  of  the  conservatory. 

Allow  the  grass  to  grow  on  the  lawn.  It  acts 
as  a  mulch,  and  protects  the  roots.  An  old  lawn 
can  be  greatly  improved  by  giving  it  a  vigorous 
combing  with  a  steel  rake  and  scattering  hay- 
seed over  it ;  for  the  constant  freezing  and  thaw- 
ing of  the  coming  months  will  carry  down  the 

428 


THE   EARTH'S   BOUNTY 

seed,  and  insure  early  germination.  Cover 
very  lightly  with  a  dressing  of  finely-sifted 
manure.  I  don't  recommend  covering  lawns 
with  coarse  manure,  for  it  is  unsightly,  and  very 
difficult  to  remove  in  the  spring  without  injur- 
ing the  sod. 

Syringas,  snowballs  and  lilacs  may  still  be 
planted.  Sheathe  the  tender  and  half-hardy 
roses  in  straw. 

DECEMBER 

All  round  the  place  there  are  jobs  to  be  done. 
Remove  dead  vines,  stocks  and  annuals,  and 
trim  all  permanent  vines,  plants  and  shrubs,  for 
nothing  looks  so  desolate  as  the  lifeless  ghosts 
of  summer.  Mend  drives  and  fences;  prune 
ornamental  trees  and  fruit-trees.  Clear  rub- 
bish and  brush  from  the  edges  of  ponds  from 
which  ice  is  to  be  cut.  Get  the  ice-house  in  order. 

Take  advantage  of  the  long  evenings  to  read 
up  on  any  of  the  subjects  which  have  bothered 
you  during  the  past  season,  and  generally  gather 

up  all  the  loose  ends  in  every  department.  Make 

429 


,THE    EARTH'S    BOUNTY 

up  the  year's  accounts,  and  then  take  two  or 
three  weeks'  real  rest.  A  visit  to  the  city  or  to 
friends  will  create  a  fresh  supply  of  enthusiasm 
and  appreciation  for  the  freedom  and  comforts 
of  the  self-made  home. 


THE  END 


430 


By  KATE  V.  SAINT  MAUR 

A  Self-Supporting  Home 

The  book  tells,  with  a  common  sense  practicality,  the  story  of  a 
family  who  got  disgusted  with  the  little  they  got  for  their  money  in  a 
city  apartment  and  determined  to  try  their  luck  in  the  country. 
Rental  at  $15  per  month  instead  of  $50,  was  their  first  saving,  and, 
judging  from  the  picture  of  the  homelike  and  attractive  house  they 
secured  for  the  former  sum,  they  probably  agreed  that  economy  was 
not  the  sole  advantage  secured  by  the  change. 

"One  of  the  most  sensible,  practical  books  of  the  kind  ever  pub- 
lished," is  the  estimate  of  the  Louisville  Courier-Journal. 

"If  the  reader  has  in  him  the  least  spark  of  love  for  country  life," 
says  the  New  York  Evening  Post,  '  'this  book  will  fan  it  into  such  a 
glow  that  he  will  be  possessed  of  but  one  ambition,  and  that  is,  to 
establish  a  self-supporting  home  of  his  own.  ...  'A  Self-Supporting 
Home'  is  full  of  explicit,  practical  helps  on  all  kinds  of  farm  indus- 
tries, and  the  amateur  may  choose  the  two  or  three  subjects  most  to 
his  liking,  and  gain  from  these  pages  valuable  information.  The 
chapters  are  arranged  according  to  the  months,  and  the  most  impor- 
tant out-door  activities  of  each  season  are  fascinatingly  set  forth." 

"Each  chapter,"  explains  the  Boston  Herald,  "is  the  detailed  ac- 
count of  all  the  work  necessary  for  one  month — in  the  vegetable 
garden,  among  the  small  fruits,  with  the  fowls,  guineas,  rabbits, 
cavies,  and  in  every  branch  of  husbandry  to  be  met  with  on  the  small 
farm.  In  this  form  the  book  is  unique,  and  especially  valuable  and 
simple  for  the  beginner,  who  has  no  chance  to  worry  or  grow  confused 
about  what  he  should  do  in  each  time  and  season." 

'  'It  is  one  of  the  soundest,  most  sensible  books  of  its  class  that  has 
been  printed,"  is  the  comment  of  The  Brooklyn  Eagle.  '  'It  covers  its 
especial  field  admirably.  It  does  not  contain  all  the  knowledge  that  a 
person  needs  to  maintain  a  modest  home  in  the  country,  but  it  does 
give  a  quantity  of  detailed  information  about  practical  matters  that  is 
worth  whole  libraries  of  theory.  The  book  should  make  an  especial 
appeal  to  women  who  love  country  life,  and  who  have  before  them  the 
problem  of  earning  their  own  living.  But  you  have  just  got  to  be 
mighty  practical  to  succeed." 

With  49  Full-page  Plates. 

Cloth,  I2mo,  $1.75  net;  Postage  15  cents 

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Thomas  F.  Hunt's  How  to  Choose  a  Farm.     .     .  $1  75 

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Isaac  P.  Roberts'  The  Farmstead 1  50 

On  Tillage,  etc. 

F.  H.  King's  The  Soil 1  50 

Isaac  P.  Roberts'  The  Fertility  of  the  Land     .     .  1  50 
Elwood  Mead's  Irrigation  Institutions  ....  1  25 
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William  E.  Smythe's  The  Conquest  of  Arid  Amer- 
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Edward  B.  Voorhees'  Fertilizers 1  25 

Edward  B.  Voorhees'  Forage  Crops 1  50 

H.  Snyder's  Chemistry  of  Plant  and  Animal  Life  1  25 
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L.  H.  Bailey's  Garden  Making 1  50 

L.  H.  Bailey's  Vegetable-Gardening 1  50 

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I.  P.  Roberts'  The  Farmer's  Business  Handbook  1  25 

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Three  Acres  and  Liberty 


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